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250 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY the business very successfully. It was in June, 1879, that William B. McMurray was united in marriage to Rachel Shawber, who also was born in Wapakoneta, daughter of Joshua and Rebecca (Shawber) Shawber, both also natives of Ohio, the former born in Logan county and the latter in Crawford county, and to this union three children were born, namely : Robert, who is now living at Bellefontaine, Ohio ; Mrs. Mildred Swink, of Cleveland, Ohio, and May, deceased. Mrs. McMurray is one of seven children born to her parents. Of these, three are still living, Mrs. McMurray having a sister, Mrs. Martha Zerfy, of Cincinnati, and a brother, Joshua Shawber, Colorado. PETER BOEHMER, manager of the extensive plant of the Rabe Lumber Company at Minster and one of the well known and active figures in local industrial circles there, was born at Cassella, in the neighboring county of Mercer, on March 21, 1883, and is a son of Adam and Mary (Schmeltz) Boehmer, the latter of whom also was born in Mercer county, a member of one of the pioneer families in that part of the state. Adam Boehmer, now a resident of Celina, was born in Germany and was but nine years of age when his parents came with their family to American and proceeded on out into Ohio, locating in Mercer county. There he grew to manhood and after his marriage established his home on a farm in that county and became the owner of a fine farm of 110 acres, On this place he continued to make his home until his retirement in 1910 and removal to Celina, where he is now living. To him and his wife were born six children, all of whom are living save Julius Boehmer, who died in the spring of 1921 from the effects of a gas attack he suffered while serving as a soldier in the American Expeditionary Force in France during the World war. The other children of this family (besides the subject of this sketch) are Edward, Elizabeth, Monica and Henry. Reared on the home farm in Mercer county, Peter Boehmer received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and remained at home on the farm until 1904, when he became employed in the plant of the New Idea Spreader Company at Maria Stein, in his home county, where he remained for seven years, during three years of which time he was foreman of the plant, At the end of that time he moved to Minster and became employed there in the lumber plant of the Moeller Lumber Company and was thus engaged there when in 1915 this concern was bought by the Rabe Lumber Company, which has since been operating the plant. When this change of management was effected Mr. Boehmer was made manager of the lumber yard and has since occupied that position, one of the best known lumber men in the county. Since taking up his residence at Minster Mr. Boehmer has given a good citizen's HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 251 attention to local civic affairs and has served the public as a member of the town council. In his political views he prefers to be classed as an "independent." He is an active member of the Minster Commercial Club, is affiliated with the St. Boniface Benevolent Society and with the St. Augustine Society and he and his wife are members of St. Augustine's Catholic church. Mr. Boehmer married Mary Harting, daughter of Reinhart Harting, and he and his wife have one child, a daughter, Cleopha. The Boehmers have a very pleasant home at Minster. IRA SIBERT, proprietor of a modern shoe repair shop at Wapkoneta and formerly and for years an attache of the wheel works in that city, is a native son of Auglaize county and has lived here all his life. Mr. Sibert was born on a farm in Duchouquet township on August 6, 1873, and is a son of Calvin and Catherine (Bitler) Sibert, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families here. Calvin Sibert grew up on a farm in that township and in turn became a farmer and landowner there, proprietor of a well improved farm of 357 acres, on which he made his home until his retirement in 1915 and removal to Uniopolis, where he and his wife are now living. They have three children, the subject of this sketch having a twin sister, Ida, wife of Jerome Orr, and a brother, Samuel H. Sibert, also a resident of Wapakoneta. Reared on the home farm in Duchouquet township, Ira Sibert received his schooling in the district schools and remained at home, a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing the farm, until after his marriage at the age of twenty-two years, when he began farming on his own account. Two years later he moved to Uniopolis and not long afterward moved from that place to Wapakoneta, where he became employed in the wheel works and was thus engaged for twelve years, or until the fall of 1909, when he opened a shoe repair shop at Wapakoneta. From the beginning of this enterprise Mr. Sibert found it successful and in 1911 he enlarged and extended the capacity of his place by putting in a complete equipment of up-to-date shoe repair machinery. Since then he has doubled that equipment and is thus prepared to take care of all local needs along that line, Besides the several employes he has in the place he has a valued assistant in the person of his son, Richard E. Sibert, a veteran of the World war, who is giving his personal attention to the growing business his father has developed. It was on April 26. 1896, that Ira Sibert was united in marriage to Amelia A. Kiefer, who also was born in this county, a daughter of Jacob and Agnes (Strohm) Kiefer, the latter of whom was born in Germany and was but a child when she came to this country with her parents, the family locating in this county. Jacob Kiefer was born in Auglaize 252 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY county, a member of one of the old families here. Mr. and Mrs. Sibert have one child, the son, Richard E., above referred to, Mr. Sibert is a Republican and he and his wife attend the German Lutheran church. He is an active lodge man and is affiliated with the local lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Knights of the Maccabees. HENRY FINKE, an honored veteran of the Civil war, formerly and for years secretary of the Kuenzel Milling Company at New Bremen and long one of the most influential figures in the general commercial and industrial life of that community, one of the best known men in Auglaize county, who died at his home in New Bremen in 1911, left a good memory at his passing and it is fitting that there should be presented here some modest tribute to that memory. Mr. Finke was born at New Biremen on January 14, 1843, and was a son of William and Elizabeth (Kuenzel) Finke, influential pioneers of that community. William Finke was born in Germany and early was trained as a flour miller. Following his location at New Bremen he became engaged there in the milling business, his pioneer flour mill proving a great convenience to the settlers. He later merged this flour mill with the operations of the woolen mill, the concern then coming to be operated under the firm name of Finke, Backhaus & Kuenzel, which in the process of time became the present Kuenzel Milling Company, all of which is set out elsewhere, and in the milling business William Finke continued until his death. He and his wife were the parents of two children, the subject of this memorial sketch having had a sister, Louise. Reared at New Bremen, Henry Finke supplemented the schooling received in the schools of that village by a course in the St. Marys high school. Though but eighteen years of age when the Civil war broke out, Mr. Finke at once enlisted his services in behalf of the cause of the Union and became a member of Company C of the 37th regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which took the field in the summer of 1861. In the week following his enlistment Mr. Finke was elected first lieutenant of Company C and with that gallant command served until the war was over, being mustered out in August, 1865. His term of service in the army thus covered a period of four years and during that time he was a participant in some of the most important engagements and battles of the war, for it is well recalled that the gallant 37th Ohio saw some pretty strenuous action. Upon the completion of his military service Henry Finke returned to New Bremen and at once entered upon an active participation in his father's growing milling activities. It was thus that he was an active figure in the merger of the milling HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 253 interests at New Bremen and took part in the erection of the woolen mills, with which concern he remained connected until his death. Under the reorganization of the milling interests under the name of the Kuenzel Milling Company he was elected secretary of the company and was thus serving at the time of his death on January 15, 1911, he then being one day past sixty-eight years of age. Mr. Finke a Republican, long regarded as one of the leaders of that party Auglaize county, and was an active member of the local post of Grand Army of the Republic at New Bremen. He was for years e of the most active figures in the New Bremen Building and Loan ociation and had served that organization both as secretary and president. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church, as is his widow, and was for years a helpful factor in the affairs of that congregation. Henry Finke married Louise Wehrman, also a member of one of the pioneer families of the New Bremen community, a daughter of Henry and Helen Wehrman, and to this union were born seven children, Clara, Alice, Laura, Julius, Minerva, Arthur and Pearl, all of whom are married and who in the aggregate have brought to Mrs. Finke nineteen grandchildren, in all of whom she takes much pride and delight. Clara Finke married Chris Roettger and has two children, Bernice and Alvin. Alice Finke married Charles Garmhausen and has four children, Grace, Ora, Wilbur and Pearl. Laura Fluke married George Kuenning and has three children, Lynn, Ralph and Wilfred. Julius Finke married Nelle Mooney and has two children, Doris and Dale. Minerva Finke married Fred Schroeder and has four children, Iva, Sylvia, Arthur and Lucile. Arthur Finke married Isabel Inderrieden and has two children, Floyd and Richard, and Pearl Finke married Fred Longworth and has two children, Otis and Dale, Since her husband's death Mrs. Finke has continued to make her home at New Bremen, where she is very pleasantly situated and in the social and cultural life of which community she has for many years been a gentle influence. THE FERRIS BROTHERS (William and Ralph), plumbers and ers in plumbers supplies at St. Marys and the latter of whom is veteran of the World war, are natives of the Empire state, but have been residents of St. Marys since the days of their boyhood. The brothers are sons of Albert and Mary Jane (McFarland) Ferris, both of whom were born in New York state and whose last days were spent in Ohio, the latter dying on October 5, 1921. The late Albert Ferris, who became well known in and about St. Marys during the height of oil activities hereabout, was born at Elmyra, N. Y., and was there reared. He early became connected with operations in the oil field and remained thus connected in the East until 1894, when he joined up with operations then being carried on in Ohio by the 254 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY Manhattan Oil Company and with his family moved to St. Marys where he established his home. He was particularly engaged as a "field boss" and in this connection became widely known throughout the oil fields of Ohio, Indiana and Oklahoma and continued thus engaged until he met his death in a railway accident on the Erie tracks between Lima and Westminster in 1920. He was a Democrat, was thirty-two years a member of the Knights of the Macabees and he and his wife were members of the Catholic church, in which faith their children were reared. They were the parents of seven children, one of whom died in infancy, the Ferris brothers having four sisters living. William Ferris, the elder of these two brothers, was born at Allentown, N. Y., in 1887 and was about seven years of age when his parents moved to St. Marys. He completed his schooling in the St. Marys schools and early became employed in the oil field and was thus engaged until in 1911, when he became employed in the establishment of the Jaspersen Supply Company at St. Marys, where he became thoroughly familiar with the details of the plumbing trade and of the plumbers supply business, his brother Ralph working alongside him in this line. The latter served as a soldier during the World war and upon his return in 1918 the brothers started in the plumbing business for themselves at St. Marys, opening a shop in the old Hormel building on West Spring street. They did so well in their new venture that these quarters soon were found to be inadequate and they moved their establishment to 124 West South street, buying the building at that number and remodeling it to accommodate their plant. In addition to doing a general plumbing business the brothers are local agents for the American Radiator Company and are doing well. William Ferris is a Democrat, and in 1920 was elected to represent his ward in the city common council. He is a member of the local aerie of Knights Fraternal Order of Eagles and of the local council of the of Columbus, and he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. On June 22, 1920, William Ferris was united marriage to Joanna Vocke, daughter of John and Clara (DeCurtins) Vocke, of Sidney, Ohio, and to this union two daughters have been born Mary Catherine and Martha Ann. Ralph Ferris was born at Allentown, N. Y., in 1889, and was thus about five years of age when he came with his parents to St. Marys, where he received his schooling and grew to manhood. He early had some valuable experience as a helper in the oil field and then turned his attention to mechanics, working in machine and blacksmith shops until he entered the employ of the Jaspersen Supply Company, where he became thoroughly grounded in the plumber's trade. In 1917, he entered war service and was attached to the land service of the naval aviation corps, HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 255 a part of the American Expeditionary Force, and with this force spent six months overseas, his whole term of service covering a period of nine months. Upon his return he became engaged in the plumbing business in association with his brother William, as set out above, and has since been thus engaged. One June 6, 1922, Ralph Ferris was united in marriage to Amelia Kammer, daughter of Jacob and Caroline (Aronald) Kammer, of St. Marys. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church and are Democrats. He is affiliated with the local council of the Knights of Columbus and with the local lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men. The Ferris brothers are energetic and progressive in their business methods and have made a definite place for themselves in the industrial and commercial life of their home town. WILLIAM J. ZINT, of the firm of Zint Bros., shoe merchants, of Wapakoneta, was born at Wapakoneta on December 16, 1867, and is a son of Joseph and Otilla (Braun) Zint, the latter of whom was born at Tiffin, Ohio. The late Joseph Zint, who was for many years a well known resident of Wapakoneta, was born in the canton of St. Gall, Switzerland, the largest of the cantons of that republic, and upon completing his service in the army of the republic became employed as a member of the famous Swiss guards of the court of the King of Italy. For eight years he served in these Royal Guards and then he came to the United States and joined an elder brother who had preceded him to this country and had settled at Glandorf, in Putnam county, this state. Not long afterward he moved to Wapakoneta and was presently married there to Otilla Braun, who was born at Tiffin, this state. After his marriage he established his home at Wapakoneta, and there his last days were spent, his death occurring in the spring of 1911. To him and his wife were born nine children, two of whom—August and Henry—are deceased, the others, besides the subject of this sketch being Jacob, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume ; Francis, Anna, George, Ida and Charles. Reared at Wapakoneta, where he was born, William J. Zint received his schooling in the parochial schools of that city. He early became employed as a clerk in a grocery store and not long afterward transferred his connection to the Timmermeister & Rogers store, where he remained for twenty years, at the end of which time, in 1909, he and his brother Jacob formed a partnership under the name of Zint Bros., and became engaged in the shoe business on their OWn account. This arrangement continued for ten years, or until 1919, when the business was discontinued ; but in 1922 the brothers, William and Jacob T. Zint, resumed their old line and opened a new and up-to-date shoe store at 129 West Auglaize street, where they have since been carrying on the business under 256 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY the name of Zint Bros., and have one of the most attractive shoe stores in this part of the state. William J. Zint has long been in interested in bee culture, one of the most successful apiarists in this section, and as a "side line" has ten colonies of bees, to which he gives his interested attention. He is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce and has long given his earnest attention to such movements as are designed to promote the general commercial activities of the town. In 1901 William J. Zint was united in marriage to Emma Ambus, daughter of Jacob and Charlotte (Allenbach) Ambus, of the neighboring county of Shelby, and to this union three children have been born, but one of whom, Dorothy, is living, the others having been Louise and Evelyn. Mr. Zint is a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic church and takes a proper interest in parish affairs. He also gives proper attention to local civic affairs and is now serving as a director of the board of safety. KARL H. SHERMAN, postmaster at Minster and one of the best known young men in Auglaize county, was born at Minster and has lived there all his life. Mr. Sherman was born on January 28. 1893, and is a son of Bernard and Elizabeth (Goeke) Sherman, the latter of whom also was born in this county, daughter of Mathis Goeke, a member of one of the pioneer families here, and is still living. She is a sister of ex-Congressman Goeke of this district. The late Bernard Sherman, who died while serving as postmaster of Minster, was born in the vicinity of Ft. Loramie, in the neighboring county of Shelby, and was there reared, early becoming engaged as a school teacher, a profession he followed for eight or ten years teaching in schools in the Minster and Ft. Loramie neighborhoods, and after his marriage established his home at Minster, where he presently became editor of the Minster Post, which he had bought and of which he continued proprietor for several years, at the end of which time he sold the newspaper and became engaged in the farm implement business at Minster. Mr. Sherman continued in this business at Minster for about fifteen years, or until he was appointed postmaster of Minster in 1915, after which he gave his chief attention to the duties of that office, and was thus serving at the time of his death, on January 25, 1916. He was an earnest Democrat and for years had been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county. To Bernard Sherman and wife were born nine children, all of whom are still living save one—Bernard Jr., who died at the age of eight years—the others (besides the subject of this sketch) being Mathias J., Bernardine, Frederick, Genevieve, Alma, Irene and Mary. Reared at Minster, where he was born, Karl H. Sherman received his schooling in the excellent schools of that place, and as a lad became a helpful assistant to his father in the latter’s HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 257 farm implement store, and was connected with that establishment at the time of his father's death in 1916. He also had gained meantime a comprehensive working knowledge of the details of the local postoffice, and at the death of his father was appointed to succeed the latter as postmaster. In the following March he received his regular appointment and commission as postmaster at Minster and has since been serving in that important public capacity, one of the most popular postmasters the town ever had. Mr. Sherman is a Democrat and is looked upon as one of the junior leaders of that party in his part of the county. He is a member of St. Augustine's Catholic church and is affiliated with the local council of the Knights of Columbus and with the local aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, of which latter organization he has served as treasurer, and is in other ways an active and helpful factor in the general social activities of the community. JOHN BRANDEWIE, a well known and substantial retired manufacturer of Minster, formerly and for years manager of the plant of the Minster Cooperage Company and thus an active and forceful figure in the industrial life of that community, was born at Minster and has been a resident of that place all his life. Mr. Brandwie was born on December 15, 1856, and is a son of Bernard and Elizabeth (Bornhorst) Brandewie, natives of Germany, who came up here from Cincinnati in pioneer days and became useful and influential members of the Minster community. Bernard Brandewie was about seven years of age when he came to this country with his parents, the family locating at Cincinnati, whence two or three years later they came up into this part of the state and settled on a farm in the "Egypt" neighborhood, southwest of Minster. It was on this pioneer farm that Bernard Brandewie grew to manhood. He then returned to Cincinnati and became employed there in a cooperage plant. Some little time after his marriage in that city he returned to Minster and opened a cooperage shop of his own at that place. He found a ready outlet for the products of his shop through the canal trade, operating his cooperage during the winters and running canal boats during the open season, and was thus engaged until the coming of the machine mills put the old cooperage shops out of business, when he closed his shop and began working for the Herkenhoff Company, with which concern he remained until his retirement at a ripe old age. To him and his wife were born nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity, those besides the subject of this sketch being Catherine, Louise (deceased), Anton, Joseph (deceased), Henry, Frank and Benjamin, the Brandewie connection in the present generation thus being a considerable one. Reared at Minster, John Brandewie received his schooling in the (16) 258 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY schools of that place and early applied himself to his father's vocation as a cooper, taking employment in the Herkenhoff plant, where he was engaged for eight or ten years, at the end of which time he became engaged, in association with his elder brother Anton, the in retail meat business at Minster. For about ten years Mr. Brandewie was engaged in this business and then he sold his interest in the place to his brother and in 1890 became the manager of the extensive local plant of the Minster Cooperage Company, in which he had a considerable financial interest, and for thirty years he continued thus engaged or until the concern sold out in 1920, when he retired from business and has since been living retired, very comfortably situated at his pleasant home in Minster. Mr. Brandewie is a Republican, one of the real "veterans" of that party in Jackson township, where it is said that in former days the finding of a Republican ballot in the ballot box was regarded by the election judges as an "accident" and not counted, and he has for years taken an earnest interest in local civic affairs. He and his family are members of St. Augustine's Catholic church and he was for five years a member of the board of trustees of the valuable property held by that parish at Minster. He also is a member of the St. Augustine Orphan Sicuety and has for many years taken a warm interest in parish affairs, In 1885 John Brandewie was united in marriage to Nora Manahan daughter of Timothy and Mary (McNamara) Manahan, and to this union seven children have been born, Bernardine, Ida, Arthur Blanche, Stanley, Hedwig, who completed her schooling at St, Vincents-on-the-Hudson, and Oscar (deceased), the first four named of whom are married. Bernardine Brandewie married L. Hierholzer, Ida Brandewie married Harry Brinkmann and has one child, a son John, named in honor of his maternal grandfather. Arthur Brandewie wie married Loretta. Hinken and Blanche Brandewie married Toy Klipstein. Stanley Brandewie, the younger son, is deputy recorder of Auglaize county and is one of the most popular and accommodating young men connected with the administration of county affairs in the court house today. JESSE W. CLARK, a charter member of the Northwest Ohio Teachers' Association, a veteran school teacher of more than forty years standing in that profession and thus one of the best known men in Auglaize county, where his professional activities have been carried on for the most part, now making his home at St. Marys, where he has resided for some years past, is a native son of Auglaize county, a member of one of the pioneer families here, and has lived in this county all his life with the exception of a period of three years during which he was teaching in the state of Oklahoma. Mr. Clark was born on a farm in the southeast quarter of HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 259 section 28 of Moulton township, a little more than a mile northeast of the village of Moulton, October 3, 1864, and is a son and the last born of the nine children—five sons and four daughters—of Jesse and Lucy (Rogers) Clark, both of whom also were born in Ohio, in Delaware county, the latter a daughter of Gay Rogers, a prominent pioneer farmer of that county. Jesse Clark, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who gave his life to the cause of the Union, was born in Delaware county on June 10, 1827, a son of one of the pioneer farmers and landowners of that county, and was reared there. Following his marriage in 1841 to Lucy Rogers he came to this part of the state and entered a tract of land in the southeast quarter of section 28 of Moulton township, which then was attached to Allen county, but which, in 1848, became a part of Auglaize county, and there established his home. To his original entry he presently added until he became the owner of 137 acres and was getting a good start toward the making of a fine farm when the Civil war broke out. He presently enlisted his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of the 175th regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he was serving when captured by the enemy an incarcerated in the infamous Libby prison at Richmond, Va. There he contracted measles and resulting complications reduced him to such a physical state that he was exchanged and was sent to the military hospital at Columbus, Ohio, where, after a lingering illness, he died. His widow, who had been keeping the family together and the farm work going during his absence in the army, continued on the farm and after awhile married Mr. Lawrence. She continued to make her home in this county and here spent her last days, her death occurring in 1903. Jesse W. Clark was born while his father was serving as a soldier in the army and the father never saw his last born child. He received his early schooling in the school house in old district No. 8, which school house stood on a corner of the Clark farm, and then entered the Wapakoneta high school, from which he was graduated in 1880. He early became attracted to the thought of becoming a teacher and the year before his graduation, when but a fifteen years of age, taught a summer term of three months of school in his home township. From that time to the present he has been continuously engaged in teaching school. He supplemented his high school course by summer courses in the normal school at Ada, Ohio, and at Valparaiso, Ind., and early became recognized as one of the thoughful and efficient teachers of this county, his service in this connection being rendered in Moulton, Washington, Salem, Noble, St. Marys and Logan townships. After teaching in this county for thrity-nine years Mr. Clark became attracted to a proposition which came to him from Tulsa, Okla., and he accepted a position in the 260 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY grade schools of that city. He remained there for three years and then returned to this county and to his old home at St. Marys, where he since has resided, during the past two winters serving as a teacher in the schools of Morgan county. In all his service of more than forty years in the school room Mr. Clark has never missed a day on account of illness, an extraordinary record. He has for many years taken an active interest in the various "get-together" movements of the teachers, is a charter member of the Northwestern Ohio Teachers Association and a member of the Teachers Reading Circle. He is a member of the local lodge of the Woodmen of the St. Marys and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at that place, and are Republicans. In 1886 Jesse W. Clark was united in marriage to Abbie E. Longsworth, who also was born in this county, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Albert Leo Clark, who is now living in the neighboring county of Mercer. Mrs. Clark was born in St. Marys township and is a daughter of John and Ruth (Hockenberry) Longsworth, both members of pioneer families in this county and the former of whom was born in that same township and has always lived on the farm on which he was born in the northeastern part of the township, since the death of his wife having made his home there with the family of his daughter, Mrs. William Kohlhorst. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have a pleasant home at 935 East Spring street, St. Marys, and take a proper part in the social and cultural activities of their home . CHRIS HARJEKAUSEN, a well known retired farmer of German township, now living at New Bremen, where he has made his home since 1916, is a native son of Auglaize county and has lived here all his life. Mr. Harjehausen was born on a farm in the southern part of German township on December 1, 1855, and is a son of Dietrich and Mary (Kuhlman) Harjehausen, both of whom were born in Germany, but had come to this country with their respective parents in the days of their youth. Dietrich Harjehausen lived at Cincinnati for awhile after coming to America and then came up into this part of the state and located in Auglaize county, where he spent the remainder of his life. Not long after becoming a member of the New Bremen community he married here, his wife’s parents having been among the early settlers of that community and established his home on a farm on the township line southwest of New Bremen, where eventually he became the owner of 120 acres in sections 17 and 18, and there he spent his last days, one of the useful and influential citizens of that part of the township. To him and his wife were born eight children, three of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary. Reared on that farm, Chris Harjehausen received his school- HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 261 ing in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing the farm, it having been a heavy task to clear and drain the land, create a farm plant and get the fields under cultivation, but the job eventually was done and the Harjehausens made a good farm out of the place. After his marriage Mr. Harjehausen rented the home place and continued to make his home there. Upon the death of his parents he acquired possession of the farm and made further improvements, gradually bringing the place up to a high state of cultivation, and there he made his home until his retirement in 1916 and removal to New Bremen, where he since has resided and where he is very comfortably situated. In 1922 Mr. Harjehausen sold his farm of 120 acres and has since devoted himself to other forms of investment. Chris Harjehausen married Minnie Ahlers, who also is a member of one of the old families of that part of the county, and to this union three children have been born, Alvin, Edward and Oscar Harjehausens Edward Harjehausen married Amelia Fark. The Harjehausens are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church at New Bremen and Mr. Harjehausen has served as an elder of the congregation, as a member of the board of trustees of the church and as president al the church council, for many years having been recognized as one of the substantial pillars of that congregation. In his political views he reserves the right to "independence" of expression at the polls. ANTON J. BECKMAN, dealer in coal and builders' supplies at Minster and regarded as one of the most alert and energetic business men at that place, was born on a farm in Jackson township, in the Minster neighborhood, November 17, 1883, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Railing) Beckman, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families here. The late Henry Beckman was reared on a farm and followed that vocation all his life, the owner of a farm of forty acres in the northeast quarter of section 26 of Jackson township, just northeast of the town of Minster, where his death occurred in 1918. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, but two of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch and his sister, Josephine. By a previous marriage Henry Beckman had two children, a son, Clem, and a daughter, Mrs. Clara Schwartz, Reared on the home farm at the edge of Minster, Anton J. Beckman received his schooling in the Minster schools and during the days of his youth and young manhood remained on the farm, helpful in the labor of developing the same, and was thus chiefly occupied until in 1912, when he became engaged in the coal business Minster and has ever since been thus engaged, now the proprietor the largest coal yard in that town. Upon starting this business Beckman bought the tract upon which his business is carried 262 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY on, erected substantial buildings on the same and went into the business right. Not long afterward, as the business developed, he added a line of general builders' supplies and thus carries on the two departments of his business under the one head and is doing well in his operations. Mr. Beckman is a member of the local lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose at Wapakoneta and he and his wife are members of St. Augustine's Catholic church at Minster. In his political views he is a Democrat with "independent" leanings. Anton J. Beckman married Cecelia Bensman, daughter of William Bensman, and to this union have been born four children, Lucile, Wilbur, Leroy and Virginia. The Beckmans have a very pleasant home at Minster. JOHN G. HEINRICH, former mayor of Wapakoneta and former president of the city council, formerly and for years engaged in the hotel business in that city, at the same time carrying on a general insurance business, in which latter line he still is active-one of the best known insurance men in Auglaize county—was born at Wapakoneta and has resided in that city all his life. Mr, Heinrich was born in the old Henry House on Willipie street—in its day one of the best known hostelries in this section of Ohio—on February 14, 1865, and is a son of William and Catherine (Herbst) Heinrich, the latter of whom also was born at Wapakoneta, in 1840, daughter of John Herbst and wife, who had settled there not long after the departure of the Indians and had thus become useful and influential pioneers of that community. The late William Heinrich, former treasurer of Auglaize county, was born at Braunsfels, in Rhenish Prussia, August 2, 1830, and was a son of George Heinrich and wife who later became substantial residents of this county. William Henrich received excellent schooling in his native land and at the age of sixteen years, in 1846, came to the United States and secured employment in New York city. Three years later he was joined there by his parents and the other members of the family, his father having come over with a view to becoming a landowner and taking up agricultural pursuits, and at the solicitation of friends who had preceded them here came on out into Ohio and settled on a tract of eighty acres of land they were able to secure in section 19 of Noble township, this county, a tract that still remains in the family. William Heinrich was just about coming into his majority when the family settled on that pioneer farm and he remained there, helping to clear and develop the same until his marriage to Catherine Herbst in 1860, he then being thirty years of age, when he became a resident of Wapakoneta and established there the Heinrich hotel at the northeast corner of Willipie and Main streets, a place which by common usage came to be known as the Henry House and which he continued to operate HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 263 until his death, or for a period of nearly fifty years. Not long after he had started his hotel Mr. Heinrich also became engaged in the insurance business and in this latter line also remained engaged until his death. He took an active part in general public affairs and in 1880 was elected treasurer of Auglaize county and thus served a term in that responsible public capacity. Upon leaving the treasurer's office he continued active in the hotel business until his death in 1909 and at his passing left a good memory. His wife had preceded him to the grave just about a year, her death having occurred in 1908. They were members of the German Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, of whom four survive, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, William C. and Charles A. Heinrich, of Wapakoneta, and a sister, Mrs. Catherine Doty, of New York city. Reared at Wapakoneta, John G. Heinrich grew up familiar with the changing conditions which in the days of his youth began to transform the town from a sort of backwoods village to a progressive, forward-looking county mat town, and his schooling was received in the local schools, this king supplemented by a course in a business college at Cleveland. He early became a valued assistant to his father in the management of the hotel and also early took up the details of the extensive insurance business his father had developed, continuing thus associated in business with his father until the latter's death in 1909, since which time he has been carrying on his insurance agencies alone, the hotel long ago having been abandoned. Mr. Heinrich has for rs been looked upon as one of the leaders of the Republican party in this county and has taken his part in public service at Wapakoneta, having served a term as mayor of the city (1898-1900) and two terms (1913-1917) as president of the city council. He has a well equipped office at 8 East Willipie street in the Brown Theater building, and has long been recognized as one of the leading insurance underwriters in this section of the state. Mr. Heinrich is a member of the German Lutheran church and is affiliated with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the local tent of the Knights of the Maccabees. John G. Heinrich has been twice married. In 1890 he was united in marriage to Maud Nichols, daughter of Dr. J. H. Nichols, of Wapakoneta, and to that union three children were born, a son, Roland H. Heinrich, and two daughters, Mrs. Susan Hauss, wife of E. A. Hauss, of Wapakoneta, and Miss Grace Heinrich, who now resides at Toledo. The mother of these children died in 1896 and in 1907 Mr. Heinrich married Sarah Cut- shall, daughter of Daniel Cutshall, of Putnam county. To this latter union three children have been born, Helen, Marie and John G. Jr., all of whom are at home. 264 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY GEORGE H. KNOSTMAN, secretary-treasurer and general manager of the Superior Cigar Box Company of Minster, a former member of the Minster town council and present member of the board of public affairs, leader of the Minster cornet band, and in other ways an active figure in the general industrial, commercial civic and social life of that town, was born at Minster, a member of one of the real pioneer families there, and has lived there all his life. Mr. Knostman was born on October 18, 1887, and is a son of Joseph and Josephine (Pieper) Knostman, both of whom also were born at Minster, their respective parents having been among the early settlers of that community. Joseph Knostman, who is still living at Minster, a well-known carpenter there, is a son of the shoemaker Knostman, who came up from Cincinnati with the Stallo colony in the middle '30s of the past century and helped establish Stallo Town, which later came into its present name of Minster, and the. Knostmans thus have been here since the very beginning of the settlement. To Joseph Knostman and wife six children were bore the subject of this sketch having three sisters, Matilda, Margaret and Isabella, and two brothers, Louis and Oscar Knostman, Reared Minster, George H. Knostman received his schooling in the loci schools and early became employed in the local cigar factory, thew becoming a proficient cigar maker. For seven years he followed the trade of cigar maker and then he transferred his services to tit Henry Ritter cigar-box factory and was there when, two or Out years later, this concern moved to Deshler, Ohio. Mr. Knostmas then became one of the prominent factors in the promotion of the Superior Cigar Box Company at Minster, and upon its organization he was elected secretary-treasurer and general manager of the concern and has since been occupying that position, having general charge of the operations of the plant and the distribution of its products. When this company started in business the plant had a capacity of around 300 boxes a day, but under Mr. Knostmana efficient direction the plant has been expanded under the demands ci the rapidly growing trade until now it can turn out 5,000 or more boxes a day. The company began operations in the old Crescent Club's building, which it bought for factory purposes, but it wet not long until it outgrew those quarters, and it was then, in 1914 that the present attractive and up-to-date factory bunching wee erected, and it is now apparent that even this building will have to be extended before long. About forty persons are employed in the plant. Mr. Knostman is a Democrat and has taken an active interest in local civic affairs. He served for four years as a member of the town council and is now a member of the board of public affair being recognized as one of the alert, progressive young men of the town. Ever since the days of his boyhood Mr. Knostman has been HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 265 one of the leaders in local musical circles at Minster, and for the past eighteen years has been the instructor and leader of the Minster cornet band. He has an interest in the Fischer Music Company at Minster and is also treasurer of the Crescent Amusement Company. He is one of the leaders of the local Commercial Club and is affiliated with the local organizations of the Knights of St. John, the Knights of Columbus, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Minster: with the lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Wapakoneta, and with the Travelers' Protective Association, while he and his wife are members of St. Augustine's Catholic church. George H, Knostman married Anna Meyer, daughter of Henry Meyer, also a member of one of the old families of this county, and to this union been born six children, Norbert, Royal, Alvina, Verona, Dorothy and Mary Magdalene. The Knostmans have a pleasant home Minster, and Mr. and Mrs. Knostman have ever taken a helpful part in the general social activities of the community. FRANCIS MARION CASE, formerly and for years active in the operations in the oil fields hereabout and now engaged in the shoe repair trade at St. Marys, one of the well known residents of that city, born in Hamilton county, Ohio, March 4, 1851, and is a son of John and Mary (Walterhouse) Case, the former of whom was a farmer of that county and who died when his son Francis was two years of age. His widow survived for many years and her last days were spent in Missouri. When he was five years of age Francis Case was adopted informally into the household of a family of the name of Reisinger, living on a farm ten miles north of Versailles, in Ripley county, Indiana, and with this family he remained, helping in the labors of the farm and receiving his schooling in the neighboring schools, until he was seventeen years of age, when he obtained farm employment in the vicinity of Greensburg, in Decatur county, Indiana. Three years later, when he had attained his majority, he returned to his birthplace in Ramilton county, this state, there and was there employed in one way and another for two years, after which he came to Auglaize county and located at St. Marys, where he became engaged as a teamster in the canal trade, and thus was here when the oil and gas "boom" started here in the late '80s. He then went to Decatur, Ind., where he stayed nine years and then returned and for ten years worked as a pumper in the St. Marys oil field and then became employed in the spoke works, where he remained for sixteen years or until ill health compelled his temporary retirement. Upon recovering from this invalidism, which confined him for a year or more, he took up the shoe repair business, opening a shop in the rear of his home in the East End, and in a short time found the business growing on his hands so rapidly that he was compelled to seek 266 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY more central and more extensive quarters. It was then that he opened his present repair shop at 312 East Spring street, where he ever since has been located and where he is doing very well, Francis Marion Case has been thrice married and by his first wife, who was Caroline Helms, of this county, he has six children. By his second wife, who was Mrs. Evelyn Baker, a widow of St. Marys, he was the father of two children, one of whom died in 1901. Mr. Case is a member of the Presbyterian church and is a Republican. He formerly was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but of recent years has not been active in this order. FRANK M. OLDIGES, manager of the Home Telephone Company at Minster, a former member of the common council of the town of Minster, former secretary of the Commercial Club and in other ways interested in the general commercial and civic development of that town, one of the best known and most progressive citizens of the town, was born at Minster and has ever regarded that place as his home, though for some years he was engaged elsewhere, telephone activities having engaged his attention since the days of his youn manhood. Mr. Oldiges was born on February 7, 1880, and is a son of Rudolph and Mary C. (Eiting) Oldiges, the latter of whom also was born at Minster, a member of one of the real pioneer families of that place. The late Rudolph Oldiges, who in his generation was one of the well known citizens of Minster, a prominent manufacturer there, was a native of Germany who had come to this country with his parents when but a child, the family locating at Minster, where he grew to manhood and where he spent his last days. He was early trained as a wagon maker and in time became engaged in that business on his own account, he and Michael Jacobs operating a wagon shop for years at Minster. To Rudolph Oldiges and wife were born ten children, those besides the subject of this sketch (the third in order of birth) being John, Herman, Catherine, Theodore, Elizabeth, Minnie, Albert, Agnes and Ralph. Reared at Minster, where he was born Frank M. Oldiges received his schooling in the schools of that town and as a young man worked for some years as a farm hand in the neighborhood. He then became engaged in the erection department of the Bell Telephone Company and for about a year was employed with that company's construction crew in the southeastern part of Ohio, constructing toll lines. He then went to Decatur, Ind., where he was engaged as a telephone lineman for four years, at the end of which time he was made superintendent of the company’s plant at Logan, in Hocking county, this state. Two years later he was transferred to the company's plant at Nelsonville, in Athens county, and was made manager there. In 1909, following the establishment of the Home Telephone Company at Minster, Mr. Oldiges HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 267 was secured as manager of that concern and thus returned to his old home town, where he ever since has remained and where he has done much to expand the interests and extend the operations of the company. When Mr. Oldiges took over the management of this plant there were but 253 subscribers. Now there are more than 500 and the plant has been improved to bring it up to date in every particular. Mr. Oldiges is a Democrat and has rendered public service as a member of the town council. He was one of the organizers of the Minster Commercial Club and has served as secretary of the same. He also was one of the organizers of the local council of the Knights of Columbus at Minster and has served as financial secretary of that body since its organization. He and his wife are members of St. Augustine's Catholic church and he is a member of the board of trustees of the valuable property interests held by that parish, Frank M. Oldiges married Minnie Hartley, daughter of Stephen Hartley, and to this union have been born four children, Francis, Mary Christina, Stephen and Charles. As will be seen by the above review, Mr. Oldiges by practical experience is acquainted with every detail of the telephone business, having been trained along this line "from the ground up," and he is one of the best known telephone men in this part of the state. GEORGE J. ALTHOFF, former proprietor of the bakery at New Bremen and one of the best known citizens of that place, has been a resident of Ohio all his life. He was born on a farm in the Botkins neighborhood in the neighboring county of Shelby on May 26, 1882, and is a son of Chris W. and Anna (Kuenning) Althoff, both of whom were born in Auglaize county, members of pioneer families here, and the former of whom is still living, now a resident of New Bremen, where he has made his home since his retirement from the farm. Chris W. Althoff was born at New Bremen, where he grew to manhood, After his marriage he moved to Shelby county, where he bought a farm and where he continued farming until his retirement and removal to New Bremen, where he is now living. He still owns his farm of eighty acres. He has been twice married and by his first wife (Anna Kuenning) was the father of five children, three of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Walter and Cecile. Following the death of the mother of these children Mr. Althoff married Emma May and by this latter union has four children, Otto, Alvin, Malinda and Leona. Reared on the home farm in Shelby county, George J. Althoff received his schooling there and during his youth helped on the farm. He later took up the baker's trade and for some time "worked around" at that trade, becoming thoroughly acquainted with the details of the business, and in 1916 became a partner of his brother in the operation of a bakery 268 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY at Botkins, where he remained until in February, 1920, when he bought the bakery at New Bremen. This bakery had a capacity of 300 loaves of bread a day, or its equivalent, and the products of his ovens attained a wide popularity in the neighborhood. In the spring of 1922 Mr. Althoff sold his bakery on account of failing health, is the owner of a farm in Shelby county but continues to make his home at New Bremen. George J. Althoff married Emma Eversman and has one child, a daughter, Irma. Mr. and Mrs. Althoff are members of St. Peter's Evangelical church and are Republicans. KARL KUEHNER, grocer and baker, proprietor of the only of bakery in Minster and one of the best known men in that town, is a European by birth but has been a resident of this country since he was sixteen years of age. He was born in the kingdom of Prussia, which embraces nearly the whole of northern Germany, September 15, 1881, and is a son of Maurice and Elizabeth (Dorn) Kuehner, both of whom also were born in that country and the former of whom was a schoolmaster. Maurice Kuehner and his wife were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Theobold and Adolph Kuehner. When he was sixteen years of age had Kuehner made his decision to come to this country. That was in 1897. He landed at the port of Baltimore and immediately soughs employment. He became employed in the shops of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company at that place, but not long afterward went to Annapolis, Md., where he became employed in a bakery and where he discovered the vocation which possessed for him an especial appeal. At Annapolis he became thoroughly familiar with the details of the baker's business and two years later returned to Baltimore and toot up work along that line there, and was at Baltimore at the time of the destructive fire in that city about twenty years ago. The bakery in which he was working was destroyed in this huge conflagration. Thus thrown out of employment he went to Aberdeen, Md., where he worked at his trade for two years, going thence to Oakland, in the same state, where he remained for a season, at the end of which time he came to Ohio and located at Sandusky, where he became engaged as the foreman in a large bakery. In the next year he went to Cleve. land, where he remained until 1909, in which year he came down into this part of the state and opened a grocery and bakery at Minster, where he ever since has been located and where he has built up a excellent trade. Mr. Kuehner has the only bakery in Minster, the character of the products of his ovens long ago having proved satisfactory to the local trade that competition is not necessary, and his place is equipped and conducted along strictly up-to-date lines, His ovens have a daily capacity of 500 loaves and his "pumpernickel” made after an old and world-famous Westphalian formula, is in HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 269 especially wide demand. Karl Kuehner married Edna Kramer, daughter of Frederick Kramer, of Minster, and has two children, a son and a daughter, Kenneth and Dorothy. In his political views Mr. Kuehner is a Democrat with independent leanings. He is a member of the Travelers Protective Association and is affiliated with the local aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Minster and with the lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Wapakoneta. HARRY G. KAH, proprietor of a well established retail meat market on Auglaize street in the city of Wapakoneta, was born on a farm in Duchouquet township, this county, January 25, 1874, and is a son of Christian K. and Margaret (Fisher) Kah, who later became residents of Wapakoneta, where their last days were spent. The late Christian K. Kah was a native of Germany and had come to this country with his parents in the days of his boyhood, the family coming on out to Ohio and settling in Shelby county, but later establishing their home in Auglaize county. It was in Shelby county that Christian K. Kah grew to manhood and after his marriage began his farming operations there. Presently, however, he moved up into Auglaize county and bought a farm of ninety acres in Duchouquet township. Some years later he disposed of that place to advantage and then returned to Shelby county, where he bought a farm of 160 acres and on this latter place made his home until his retirement from the farm and removal to Wapakoneta, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there in 1919. His wife had preceded him to the grave in 1902. They were members of the Lutheran church and their twelve children were reared in that faith. Harry G. Kah was but a lad when his parents returned to Shelby county from Auglaize county and in the schools of the former county he completed his schooling. When twenty years of age, in 1894, he entered upon an apprenticeship to the butcher's trade at Wapakoneta and after acquiring a thorough initial experience along that line became engaged in the retail meat trade at Wapakoneta in association with Jacob Werner. In 1914 that partnership was dissolved and Mr. Kah then opened his present well equipped establishment on Auglaize street and has since been doing business there alone, and has done well. In 1899 Harry G. Kah was united in marriage to Bertha Menges, daughter of Gus and Caroline Menges, of Wapakoneta, and to that union have been born four children, Melvin, Adrian, Venard and Harry Edward. The Kahs have a pleasant home at 411 East Pear1 street. Mr. and Mrs. Kah are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Kah is a member of the local aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and in his political views reserves the right to "independence. 270 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY CONRAD BECKER, former trustee of Salem township and one of the best known and most substantial farmers and landowners of that township, proprietor of a fine farm on rural mail route N. 4 out of Spencerville, was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Allen on May 16, 1868, and is a son of George and Catharine (Meihls) Becker, who later became residents of the neighboring county of Van Wert. The late George Becker was a European by birth, born in Germany, where he grew to manhood. When twenty-two years of age, in 1865, he came to America and proceeded on out into Ohio, locating in Allen county, where he presently was married and where he took up farming and was thus engaged in that county until 1870, when he moved over into Van Wert county and bought a tract of 400 acres of timber land there and settled down to the task of clearing and draining the same and making a farm out of it. Onthat place, which he gradually brought under cultivation, he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there on August 25, 1914. To George Becker and wife were born eleven children, seven of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch—the eldest- being Elizabeth, George, William, Anna, Theodore and Tina, As will be seen by a comparison of dates above, Conrad Becker was but two years of age when his parents moved from Allen county onto their big timber tract in Van Wert county and he grew to manhood on this latter place, thoroughly familiar with the hard details of ing and improving a virgin timber tract. He received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and after his marriage at the age of twenty-five years continued to make his home on the home place for about five years, or until in 1898, when he came dOWn into Auglaize county and bought the farm of 213 acres in Salem township on which he is now living, and ever since has made his home there, Since taking possession of this place Mr. Becker has made extensive improvements on the same and now has an admirable farm plant. He and his sons carry on their operations in accordance with modern methods of agriculture and are doing well. Mr. Becker is a Democrat and has long been looked upon as one of the leaders of that party in Salem township, for six years having served as one of the trustees of the township. He and his wife are members of the New Salem Presbyterian church, and their children have been reared in the faith of that communion. It was in 1893 that Conrad Becker was united in marriage to Jane E. Purdy, who was born in Van Wert county, daughter of Ephraim and Susan Purdy, and to this union four children have been born, Catherine, George E., William C. and John R., all of whom are married save the last named. Catherine Becker married Walter W. Miller, of Salem township, and has two children, Velma J. and Dorothy. George E. Becker married Nell Hays, also of Salem township, and has one child, Dona Jean, and William C, Becker HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 271 married Myrtly Taylor and also lives in Salem township. The Beckers have a pleasant home on their farm and have ever taken an interested part in the community’s general social activities. WILLIAM P. SHIPMAN, a member of the board of township trustees for Noble township and a well known farmer of that township, residing on rural mail route No. 2 out of St. Marys, was born in Noble township and has resided there all his life. Mr. Shipman was born on February 17, 1884, and is a son of John N. and Louise (Haas) Shipman, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families here. John N. Shipman, who is now living retired at St. Marys, was born in Cincinnati and was three years of age when he came to Auglaize county with his parents, John L. and Anna Shipman, the family settling on a farm in the south half of section 35 of Noble tOWnship, about two miles northeast of At. Marys, where they established their home, John L. Shipman becoming one of the substantial pioneer farmers of that section. On that place John N. Shipman grew to manhood and after his marriage became a farmer on his own account, the owner at one time of 240 acres of land thereabout. He continued actively engaged in farming and stock raising until the death of his first wife, after which he retired from farming, his son Cass then taking charge of the farm. He continued to make his home on the farm, however, until his marriage in 1914 to Mrs. Rebecca Turner, after which he moved to St. Mays, where he and hiS wife are now living. By his first marriage John N. Shipman was the father of nine children, seven of whom are living, the subject of this sketch having one sister, Mildred, and five brothers, Leonard, Herman W., Raymond V., Lewis Cass and John V. Shipman. Reared on the home farm in the southeastern part of Noble township, William P. Shipman received his schooling in the school house in district No. 6 (the Yahl school) and from the days of his boyhood was a helpful factor in the labors of his father's farm. After his marriage he continued on the home place, renting from his father, and is still living there, renting a tract of sixty acres. In addition to his general farming Mr. Shipman for the past six years and more has been operating a threshing rig throughout that section, and has thus become one of the best known men in that part of the county. He is a Republican and has from his earliest voting days taken an interested part in local civic affairs. In 1918 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the board of township trustees and by successive elections has ever since held that position, ably performing the duties of that responsible office. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. William P. Shipman married Anna Moehring, daughter of Christian and Sophia Moehring, also of this county, and to this union three children have been born, Lewis, Frederick and Guy. The Shipmans have a pleasant 272 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY farm home and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of the community in which they reside. AUGUST HUENKE, a well-known and substantial landowner and farmer of St. Marys township, now living retired on his well-kept place in the northeast quarter of section 29 of that township, was born on the place on which he is now living, a member of one of the pioneer families of that part of the county, and has lived there all his life. Mr. Huenke was born on October 4, 1857, and is a son of Henry and Louise (Strafer) Huenke, both natives of Germany, who were married in Ohio, and who became substantial residents of St. Marys township, where they reared their family. Henry Huenke was born in the kingdom of Hanover on September 26, 1812, and remained there until 1838, when he came to this country, and not long afterward located at New Bremen. That was about the time operations on the construction of the canal and the Grand Reservoir were beginning to get well under way, and for some time after coming here he worked on the construction of the reservoir. In July, 1843, he married Louise Strafer, and for some time thereafter was engaged in the hotel business, but not finding this to his the liking, sold hotel and bought a tract of forty acres of land on the Cloverford road, in St. Marys township, and began farming. Three years later he bought an "eighty" in the northeast quarter of section 29 of that township, the place where his son, August, is now living, and there established his home and spent the remainder of his, coming to be the owner of 335 acres and a well-improved farm plant. To him and his wife were born ten children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Henry, Albert, William, Louis, Louise, Emma, Alice, Anna and Lillie, so that the Huenke connection hereafter in the present generation is a no inconsiderable one. Reared on that pioneer farm in St. Marys township, August Huenke received his schooling in what was known as the Huenke school, and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing the farm. He remained at home until the death of his parents, after which he came into possession of the home “eighty” and has ever since continued to make that his home, in the meantime adding to his holdings until now he has a well-improved farm of 130 acres. Mr. Huenke continued actively engaged in farming and stock raising until his retirement from the personal labors of the farm in 1914, since which time he has been content to take things somewhat easier than during the more strenuous years of his career. In addition to his general farming, he for years gave much attention to his live stock interests and was widely known as a breeder of heavy draught horses. He and his wife are Republicans. They have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 1 out of New Bremen and are quite comfortably situated. Mrs. Huenke was born (Alvina HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 273 Koeper) in New Bremen and is a daughter of Henry and Charlotte (Wittinbrink) Koeper, both of whom were born in Germany, but were married in this country and many years ago made their home in New Bremen. Henry Koeper was a cooper, a vocation he followed for years, or until his retirement. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, those besides Mrs. Huenke being Minnie, Emma, Clara Luella, Ona, John and William. JACOB BIGLER, former superintendent of the Auglaize county infirmary and a well known and substantial landowner of this county, now living retired from the farm and engaged as a painting tractor at Wapakoneta, where he has made his home for the past twenty years and more, is a "Buckeye" by birth and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Auglaize county since the days of his young manhood. Mr. Bigler was born on a farm in the Cridersville neighborhood up over the line in Allen county on May 20, 1861, and is a son of Engelhart and Lydia A. (Mowrey) Bigler, whose last days was spent in Auglaize county. The late Engelhart Bigler was a Pennsylvanian, born in York county in 1836, a son of John Bigler, and was but a lad when he came to Ohio with his parents, the family settling in Auglaize county. One of his brothers, Henry Bigler, was killed in battle while serving as a soldier of the Union during the Civil war. When he was thirteen years of age Engelhart Bigler made his home with the family of his uncle, Jacob Danner, in the vicinity of Cridersville, in Allen county, and remained there until his marriage at the age of twenty-five years to Lydia Mowrey, daughter of Jacob Mowrey, an extensive landowner of that county. Engelhart Bigler had a forty-acre farm and after his marriage traded that place for a farm of eighty acres nearby, where he made his home for some years, at the end of which time he bought a farm in the Uniopolis neighborhood in this county and on this latter place spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there in 1905. His widow survived him for ten years, her death occurring in 1915. They were the parents of two children, Jacob Bigler having a sister, Lavina, wife if Levi Fess, a brother of Congressman Fess of this state. Jacob Bigler was pretty well grown when the family moved from Allen county to their new home in the vicinity of Uniopolis, and his schooling was received in the schools of Allen county. He remained on the home farm, a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing the same, until his marriage at the age of twenty-seven years, when he established his home on a farm of 105 acres in Union township, this county, where he remained until his election in the spring of 1893 to the position of superintendent of the county infirmary. It was on March 7 of that year that Mr. Bigler took charge of the infirmary and he remained there for nine years, or until 1902, during which period numerous improvements were made to the infirmary, including the (17) 274 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY erection of a bake house and a large ice house. Upon leaving the infirmary Mr. Bigler secured a home in Wapakoneta and has since resided there, he and his family now being very comfortably situated at 214 East Benton street. In addition to looking after his extensive land interests, for he is the owner of a fine farm of 230 acres in Union township and of a farm of 203 acres in Moulton township, Mr. Bigler is engaged in the paint contracting line and during the season keeps a force of five or six men employed as painters. It was in Jacob Bigler was united in marriage to Sophia Presser, daughter of Frederick and May (Doering) Presser, both members of old families in this county, and to this union three children have been born Clara wife of Oscar Shaw, and Grace and Bernard, the two latter of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have two daughters, Mary Ann and Sandra Irene. Mr. and Mrs. Bigler are members of the Lutheran church and are Democrats. Mr. Bigler is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and of the local aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and has served as inner guard of the former lodge, JOSEPH SAUM, better known to his friends as "Joe" Saum, a well known grocer of St. Marys and recognized as one of “live” the young business men of that city, was born at St. Marys and has lived there all his life, practically "growing up" in the business in which he is now successfully engaged. Mr. Saum was born in 1894 and is a son of Alexander and Rosa Saum, the latter of whom is still living at St. Marys. The late Alexander Saum, for many years one of the well known business men of that town, became engaged in the grocery business at St. Marys in 1892 and continued thus engaged until his death, which occurred on Easter Sunday in 1922, He was a Scottish Rite Mason and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with the consistory and the shrine at Dayton, and was also affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and with the Woodmen of the World. To Alexander Saum and wife were born six children, four of whom, with the widow and mother, survive. Joe Saum was reared at St. Marys and his schooling was received in the excellent schools of that city. From the days of his boyhood he took an interest in the operations of his father's grocery store and in 1909, when but fifteen years of age, began to drive a huckster wagon throughout that trade area in behalf of the store, gaining thus an experience in practical merchandising which has been invaluable to him in his later mercantile operations. In 1916, he bought from his father a half interest in the store and this mutually agreeable partnership arrangement was continued until the death of his father in the spring of 1922, when he acquired the interest of the decedent in the store and has since been carrying on the business alone, having a very well equipped and admirably stocked place at HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 275 156 East Spring street, one of the most popular grocery stores in town. Joseph Saum married Clara Ternester, who also was born at St. Marys, daughter of John Ternester, and he and his wife have one child a daughter, Rose Marie, who is in school. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church and are Republicans. Mr. Saum is a member of the local aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and of the local camp of the Woodmen of the World. He is enterprising and progessive in his business methods and is doing well. GEORGE J. RAPP, a substantial farmer and landowner of Auglaize county, now living practically retired at his home in St. Marys, where he has resided for many years, formerly engaged in the livery business in that city, was born on a farm in Morrow county, Ohio June 17, 1862, and is a son of Mathias and Dorothy Rapp, who had come to this country from Europe and who later became residents of Auglaize county, where their last days were spent. Mathias Rapp and his wife were natives of the grand duchy of Baden and were living on a farm there when the political upheaval throughout Germany in 1848 returned the thoughts of so many freedom-loving Germans to the contemplation of new homes in America, bringing about that great tide of immigration which brought thousands of Germans to America in the early '50s. It was then that Mathias Rapp and his wife and the two children that then had been born to them came to this country and found a home in the vicinity of Cardington, in Morrow county, this state, For ten years or more Mathias Rapp was engaged in farming there as a tenant farmer and then in 1865 he came to Auglaize county with his family and bought an "eighty" on the east bank of the canal in the east half of section 1 of Salem township, the southeast corner of that township, and there established his home. He was a good farmer and as his affairs prospered added to his holdings until he became the owner of 182 acres. On this place he and his wife spent their last days, her death occurring in February, 1887, and his in August of that same year. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. There were ten of these children, eight of these having been born in Ohio. George J, Rapp was three years of age when his parents moved from Morrow county to Auglaize county and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Salem township, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood. From the days of his boyhood he was a helpful assistant in the labors of developing the home farm and he continued operations with his father until his marriage at the age of twenty-five. That was about the time his father died and he continued to make his home on the farm, a portion of which he inherited, and there resided until 1896 when he moved to St. Marys and there engaged in the livery stable business, establishing himself in business on the site of the present beautiful Memorial park between 276 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY the river and the canal. In 1919 when the park project was brought up Mr. Rapp disposed of his business and then resumed his direction of his active farming interests, for he had retained possession of his old home acres in Salem township and had besides bought a tract of thirty-six acres adjoining, and he since has been farming there though still making his home at St. Marys, he and his wife having a very pleasant home at 206 North Spruce street. Mr. Rapp has a well improved farm and is doing well in his operations. It wait 1887, the year in which his parents died, that George J, Rapp was united in marriage to Cora A. Johns, who was born in this county, daughter of Ezra and Madora Ann (Halem) Johns, substantial pioneer farmers of the county, and to this union two children have been born, one who died in infancy and a daughter, Norma, who died in 1914 at the age of twenty-four years. Mr. and Mrs, Rapp are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at St. Marys and are Democrats. Mr. Rapp is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. JOHN L. SCHEER, superintendent of the New Bremen electric light and waterworks plant, was born on a farm in the eastern part of German township, this county, November 11, 1885, and is a son of Henry and Louise (Haney) Scheer, both of whom also were born in this same township, members of pioneer families here. Henry Scheer was a farmer all his life and he and his wife were the parents of seven children, all of whom are living save one, the subject of this sketch having one sister, Esther, and four brothers, William, Henry, Lafe and Herbert Scheer. Reared on the farm, John L. Scheer received his schooling in the Kettlersville school, over in the neighboring county of Shelby, and for some years after leaving school continued to work as a farmer. He then became engaged as a lineman for the New Bremen Telephone Company and has since made his home at New Bremen. For six years Mr. Scheer remained with the telephone company, in that time becoming thoroughly familiar with all details of the electrical side of that form of industry and then he accepted the position of superintendent of the city light and water plant and has so continued, having occupied this responsible position since 1914. During this period of Mr. Scheer's service with the light and water plant numerous improvements have been made to the plant with a view to its increasing efficiency and it long has been acknowledged that New Bremen has one of the most effective municipal waterworks and electric lighting plants in western Ohio. John L. Scheer married Alma Wissmann, daughter of Chris and Louise Wissmann, and he and his wife have a very pleasant home at New Bremen, They members of St. Paul's Lutheran church and Mr. Scheer is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. In his political views Mr. Scheer is an "independent" Democrat. HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 277 JAMES A. BLAKELEY, who died at his home in this county in January, 1923, was one of the best known and most substantial farming in the northern part of Salem township and was the proprietor of afome farm there on rural mail route No. 4 out of Spencerville, where he bad resided since the days of his childhood. The late Mr. Blakeley was born in Wayne county, Ohio, September 10, 1852, and was a son of Seneca and Sarah (McCoy) Blakeley, who later became residents of Auglaize county and whose last days were spent here. Seneca Blakeley was born in Pennsylvania and was ten years of age when his parents came with their family to Ohio and settled in Wayne county. In this county he grew to manhood and after his marriage established himself on a farm there, remaining there until 1861 when he disposed of his interests in that county and with his family moved to Auglaize county and bought a tract of 120 acres in the northwest quarter of section 22 of Salem township, on the northern border of the county, and there established his permanent home. When Seneca Blakeley bought that farm it was an uncleared and unimproved timber tract an upon him and his sons fell the task of clearing the place and making a farm out of it. On that place Seneca Blakeley spent his last days, his death occurring in 1895, and his widow survived him for some years. They were the parents of two sons, the subject of this memorial sketch having had a brother, Herbert Blakeley, now deceased. James A. Blakeley was nine years of age when he came to Auglaize county with his parents in 1861 and he grew to manhood on the pioneer farm on the northern edge of Salem township. He married when twenty-two years of age and continued to make his home on the farm, operating there in association with his father until the latter’s death, when he inherited eighty acres of the home place. Upon the death of his mother he inherited 100 acres of the old McCoy farm east of the Blakeley place, and had since made his home on this latter place, where he died in January, 1923, he then being in the seventy first year of his age. Mr. Blakeley, with the assistance of his sons had the two farms in a fine state of cultivation and did well in his operations. He was a Democrat, as are his sons, and ever took a proper interest in local civic affairs. It was on December 3, 1874, that James A. Blakeley was united in marriage to Anna Groves, who was born in Champaign county, this state, and to this union eleven children were born, Emery, Laura, Etta, William, Sarah, Charles, Effie, Freeman, Verne, Minnie and James. Emery Blakeley, the eldest of these children and a veteran of the Spanish-American war, married Ida Young and has three children, Ernest, Clara and Stella. Laura Blakeley married Arthur Pierce and has one child, a daughter, Etta Blakeley married Clarence Bennett and has two children, Irene and James. William Blakeley married Blanche Farley and has three children, Clara, William H. and Emery. Freeman 278 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY Blakeley married Pearl Houck and has one child, a daughter, Catherine. Effie Blakeley married Jack Haver and has one child, a son Roy. Verne Blakeley married Pansy Weidener and has two children. Mary and Bernice. Charles Blakeley married Juanita Sullivan and Minnie Blakeley married T. L. Becker and has two children, Eileen and Helen. The Blakeleys have a pleasant home and have ever taken a helpful part in the general social activities of the community in which they live. VERNON ELMER BAHR, a veteran of the World War overseas record and with an previous record of four years in the United States navy, a member of the locally famous Elks band at Wapakoneta and a skilled mechanic and molder, employed in the plant of the Wapakoneta Hollow Ware Company, one of the well known young men in that city, was born at Columbus, Ind., February 27, 1891, and is a son of Joseph and Emma (Ingle) Bahr, who are now making their home at Wapakoneta, pleasantly situated at the corner of Benton and Logan streets. Joseph Bahr is a native "Buckeye," born on a farm in the vicinity of the village of Anna, in the neighboring county of Shelby, in 1858, and was reared there, early becoming trained as a blacksmith. Upon acquiring his trade he opened a blacksmith shop at Fishers, Ind., and not long afterward was married there. After his marriage he located at Columbus, Ind., and after some years of residence there moved to Kokomo, where he resided for eleven years, at the end of which time he went to Kentucky and was for some time engaged as a smith in the coal mines there. He then returned to Indiana and became engaged in a motor plant at Vincennes, presently returning to Kokomo, where for five years he was employed in the plant of the Apperson Motor Company. He then returned to Ohio and open a blacksmith shop at Buckland, this county, where he remained for six years, at the end of which time he moved to Wapakoneta, where he is now living, proprietor of a blacksmith shop in the western suburb of Moulton. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Vernon E. Bahr was but a lad when his parents moved from Columbus to Kokomo and his schooling was completed in the schools of the latter city. Upon leaving school he joined the United States navy and spent four years in naval service, after which he returned to Kokomo and was for two years thereafter employed in the Apperson motor car plant. When his parents moved to Buckland he accompanied them and became employed on the L. E. & W. railroad. Not long after the family moved to Wapakoneta this country took a hand in the World war and he presently entered military service, reporting for duty at Camp Sherman (Chillicothe) where he was assigned to service in the 329th Heavy Field Artillery of the 32d Division and with this command went overseas, Mr. Bahr had a year of overseas service with the American Expeditionary HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 279 Force, this including participation in the campaigns on the Meuse and in the Argonne and three months with the Army of Occupation in Germany, He returned to this country with his command in May, 1919, and was honorably discharged with the rank of musician of the second class. Mr. Bahr acquired his skill as a band musician years ago and is one of the valued members of the Wapakoneta Elks band. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Bahr returned to Wapakoneta and to the bride whom he left behind when he sailed oversears, and has since resided there, he and his family being pleasantly situated at 603 South Court street. It was on December 26, 1917, just prior to his departure for the front, that Vernon E. Bahr was united in marriage to Mildred Wentz, daughter of John and Flora (Lucas) Wentz, of Duchouquet township, this county, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Vivien. Mr. Bahr is a member of the local post of the American Legion at Wapakoneta and takes an interested part in the activities of that patriotic body. Since his return from the army he has been employed as a molder in the plant of the Wapakoneta Hollow Ware Company. CHRIS W. ALTHOFF, a well known and substantial retired farmer now making his home in New Bremen, where he has resided for the past seven or eight years, is a native son of Auglaize county an is a member of one of the pioneer families here. Mr. Althoff ns born in German township on February 12, 1855, and is a son of George and Anna (Kreimer) Althoff, natives of Germany, who came to this country shortly after their marriage and settled in the German settlement that had been effected in and about New Bremen, this county. That was about the time work on the canal was begun, and for some time after his arrival here George Althoff worked on the construction of that waterway, thus acquiring a start toward the purchase of a farm in this county, for he had come to this country with the intention of becoming an agriculturist. He bought a tract of forty-seven acres of uncleared and undrained land in the western half of section 6 of German township, along the border of Mercer county, and there established his home and proceeded to develop his place, afterward adding to his holdings until he became the owner of an excellent farm of 177 acres, a part of which was located over the line in Mercer county. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, six of whom grew to maturity, those besides the subject of this sketch being John, Herman, Henry, Catherine and Anna. Reared on the home farm in German township, Chris D. Althoff received his schooling in the somewhat primitive school that was maintained in that neighborhood in the days of his boyhood and worked with his father on the farm until the latter's death. A few years later he married and then bought a farm of eighty acres down in the neighboring 280 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY county of Shelby, where he established his home and where he continued actively and successfully engaged in farming until his retirement from the farm in 1915 and removal to New Bremen, where he has since resided and where he and his family are very comfortably situated. Mr. Althoff is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to political affairs, though he has not been a seeker after public office. He and his wife are members of St. Peter's Evangelical church at New Bremen and take an interested part in church affairs. Mr. Althoff has been twice married. By his union with Anna Kuenning, his first wife, he had five children, three of whom- George, Walter and Cecelia—are living. By his marriage to Emma May, his present wife, he has four children, Otto, Alvin, Malinda and Leona. All of these children are married. George Althoff married Emma Eversman and has one child, a daughter, Irma. Walter ALthoff married Lorma Poppe and has one child, Mary. Cecelia Althoff married Emil Schweede and has one child, Edith. Otto Althoff married Alma Lehrmann and has one child, Helen. Alvin Althoff married Mabel Regnas and has one child, Dora Anna. Malinda Althoff married Louis Howe and has four children, Lola, Frederick, Marie and Mildred, and Leona Althoff married Edward Eckhart, Mr. Althoff thus has nine grandchildren in whom he takes much delight, DR. HENRY E. FLEDDERJOHANN, who has been engaged in the practice of medicine at New Knoxville for the past thirty-five years and is thus one of the oldest and best known physicians in this county, is a native son of Auglaize county, a member of one of the pioneer families here, and has lived in this county all his life, Doctor Fledderjohann was born on a farm west of New Knoxville, in Washington township, November 12, 1855, and is a son of Herman Henry and Catherine (Engle) Fledderjohann, both members of pioneer families in this county, and concerning whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume. The late Herman Henry Fledderjohann, formerly and for many years one of the men of affairs of Auglaize county, was a native of Germany, born at Ladbergen, in Prussia, January 16, 1816, and was not yet twenty years of age when in 1835 he came to this country with his parents, Henry Flederjohann and wife, the family proceeding on out into Ohio and settling in what in the next year came to be organized as Washington township, a part of Allen county, that having been thirteen years prior to the erection of Auglaize county. In the year of his arrival here, Henry Fledderjohann entered a tract of land from the Government in section 30, township 6 south, range 5 east (afterward Washington township), and there established his home, thus becoming one of the real pioneers of that part of what in 1848 came to be organized as Auglaize county. This tract was just a mile west of where in HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 281 the next year (1836) the town site of New Knoxville was laid out at the site of the pioneer mill there. The Fledderjohann entry site on the west edge of Washington township was where the Pilger-Ruhe cemetery later came to be established. On that place the pioneer Henry Fledderjohann and his wife spent their last days, both dying during the time of the dreadful cholera epidemic which swept over this section in 1849. It was just about the time the Fledderjohanns came here that work on the Miami & Erie canal was begun, and Herman Henry Fledderjohann (better known as Henry), then twenty years of age, began working on the construction of that big engineering undertaking. He had learned the trade of carpenter in his native Prussia, and his ability along that line quickly raised him to a position of foreman of lock construction, in which capacity he superintended the construction of the locks in the canal here along the "divide," one of the most difficult bits of engineering in the whole course of the canal. After his father's death he came into possession of the home acres and also bought other timber lands in the county, thus becoming a considerable landowner, though farming was not his chief vocation. Following the completion of the canal, he built a saw mill at Lock 6, in section 26 of St. Marys township, about three miles south of St. Marys, and for forty years was engaged in the operation of that mill, finding a profitable outlet for his lumber in the canal traffic. He also had a hand in other enterprises and came to be recognized as one of the substantial and energetic men in the county, these activities continuing until his retirement, when advancing years warned him that he had done his part in community development. He lived to be past eighty-eight years of age, his death occurring at his home at Lock 6 on July 25, 1904. Herman Henry Fledderjohann was twice married and was the father of twelve children, all of whom save five—Frederick W., August H., Caroline M., Ernest F. and Anna M.—are living, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Mina and Louise, and four brothers, Herman H., Benamin A., George F. and Dr. Ferdinand F. Fledderjohann. Dr. Henry Fledderjohann was but a lad when his father established his home at Lock 6, and his public schooling was received in the school in that neighborhood and in the high school at New Bremen. Upon leaving high school he secured a license to teach, and for two winters was engaged in teaching in the district schools of this county. In the meantime he had been giving his attention to preliminary studies in medicine and after awhile entered the medical college of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1886. Upon receiving his degree, Doctor Fledderjohann returned home and opened an office for the practice of medicine at St. Marys. Eighteen months later he moved to New Knoxville, opened an office there and has ever since been engaged in practice 282 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY at that place, one of the veterans of his profession in this county. Dr. Henry E. Fledderjohann was united in marriage to Emma M. Snethkamp, daughter of H. William Snethkamp, and to this union have been born five children, two of whom—Leona, the first born and Felix A., the fourth in order of birth—are deceased, the others being Frances, Walter R. and Zella H., the latter of whom married Ferdinand F. Eversman and has one child, a daughter, Jeanette Ann, Frances Fledderjohann, the elder daughter, married the Rev. Orin P. Schroerluke and has two children, Lois and Henry P. The Fledderjohanns are members of the German Reformed church, and Doctor Fledderjohann was secretary of the congregation of this church at New Knoxville for one term. In his political views the Doctor reserves his right to vote independently of party ties. H. J. POLLITT, foreman of the carding and spinning department of the St. Marys woolen mills, is one of the real veterans in the woolen mill industry, having been engaged in that line since the days of his boyhood, a period of more than a half century, and is thus conversant with all details of the industry. Mr. Pollitt was born at Rochester, N. Y., November 6, 1849, and is a son of W. H. Pollitt, also a native New Yorker, of English descent, who had grown up in the woolen mill industry in the East and at that time was superintendent of a woolen mill at Rochester. It was after he had located at Rochester that he married Hannah Griffith, of that place, She died in 1858, leaving four children, two sons and two daughters, the subject of this sketch at that time being less than ten years of age W. H. Pollitt later bought a woolen mill at Sardinia, N. Y,, and was there engaged in business for years. He lived to a ripe old age, his death occurring in 1901. H. J. Pollitt was but a lad when his father became engaged in business at Sardinia and he completed his schooling in the schools of that city. He early became trained to the details of the woolen mill industry in his father's mill and remained with his father in this connection for fifteen years, at the end of which time he accepted the position of superintendent of the woolen mill at New Richmond, down on the river in Clermont county, this state, and since then, with the exception of a few years spent in woolen mills in Pennsylvania, he has been connected with this industry in Ohio. Mr. Pollitt remained at New Richmond two years and then became the superintendent of the mill at Caldwell, several years later going to Dresden, where he was superintendent of the mill for ten years, at the end of which time he accepted an offer to take charge of the woolen mill at Reynoldsville, Pa., where he stayed until 1914, when he went to Delaware and was there until 1916, he accepted the position of foreman of the carding and spinning department of the big woolen mill at St. Marys and has since been a resident of HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 283 that city. Mr. Pollitt has been twice married. In 1868 he was united in marriage to Murilla Goodrich, of Sardinia, N. Y., who died during the time of their residence at Dresden, in Muskingum county, this state. In 1904, while living at Reynoldsville, Pa., Mr. Pollitt married Mrs. Esther McKee, a widow of that place, and he and his wife have a very pleasant home at 330 East Columbia street at St. Marys. They are members of the Presbyterian church and are Democrats. Mr. Pollitt has given considerable attention to civic affairs and during the time of his residence at Dresden served for some time there as a member of the city council. He also served for four years as post-master at Antioch, this state. He is a member of the order Knights of Pythias, having become affiliated with that order during residence at Dresden. LEWIS SEIBERT, one of Salem townshipls well known and progressive farmers and landowners, living just west of the canal in the northem part of that township, on rural mail route No. 4 out of Spencerville, school director in his district and in other ways useful and influential in the affairs of that community, was born in Salem township and has resided there all his life, a practical farmer since the days of his young manhood. Mr. Seibert was born on a farm in the southern part of the township on March 5, 1866, and is a son of Peter and Anna Mary (Uhl) Seibert, who had settled there nearly sixty years ago. The late Peter Seibert was born in Crawford county, Ohio, a member of one of the pioneer families of that county, and was there married. Not long after his marriage, in 1864, he came to Auglaize county and bought a tract of eighty acres in the southern part of Salem township, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 3 of that township, right on the line between Salem and Noble townships, and on that place established his home. He was a good farmer, kept abreast of the many advances that just about that time were beginning to revolutionize farm life and methods, and as his affairs prospered added to his land holdings until he became the owner of 272 acres in Salem township and was accounted one of the wel1-to-do men of that part of the county. On that place he spent the remainder of his life and at his passing left a good memory. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Caroline, and four brothers, John, Daniel, Samuel and William, the two latter of whom are living on the old home place. The deceased children of this family were Martha, Elizabeth, Charles, James and Anna. Reared on the home farm in Salem township, Lewis Seibert received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and until his marriage at the age of twenty-five years remained on the home farm, helpful in the labors of developing the same. After his marriage he rented a farm of 120 284 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY acres from his father-in-law (the Ritzhaupt farm west of the canal in section 23 of Salem township, just south of Deep Cut in the northern part of the township), the place on which he is now living, and has ever since resided there, his wife having inherited the place following the death of her father, Jacob Ritzhaupt, who for years was one of the best known men in the Deep Cut neighborhood, Mr, Seibert also owns thirty-two and one-half acres of the old Seibert farm in the southern part of the township and has besides another "forty" in this township. He carries on his farming operations in accordance with modern methods and has done well. It was on August 11, 1891, that Lewis Seibert was united in marriage to Anna Susanna Ritzhaupt, who also was born in Salem township, daughter of Jacob and Hannah Ritzhaupt, who were among the early settlers in the Deep Cut neighborhood, and of the children born to this union nine are still living, Peter J., Hannah, Elizabeth Ann, William L., John A., Daniel, Martha, Harvey and Harley. The mother of these children died on April 30, 1922. Peter J. Seibert, the eldest of the children of this family, married Margaret Hance and has three children, Pauline, Charles and Howard. Elizabeth A. Seibert, the child in the family, is the wife of Leo Briggs. Mr. Seibert is a member of the United Brethren church, as was his wife, and the children were reared in the faith of that communion. The Seiberts are Democrats and Mr. Seibert has ever given a good citizen's atten local civic affairs, and is attention to present serving as the director of the school in his district. OSCAR R. VORHEES, chief of the Wapakoneta fire department and long regarded as one of the most expert fire fighters in northwestern Ohio, was born at Wapakoneta and has resided there practically all his life. Mr. Vorheea was born on April 17, 1874, and is a son of John W. and Mary A. (Richardson) Vorhees, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a daughter of Byrd and Nancy (Smiles) Richardson, who were among the earliest settlers of what is now the St. Johns neighborhood. Byrd Richardson was a native of the Old Dominion, born in Montgomery county, Virginia, in 1809. He was reared there and after his marriage to Nancy Smiles came to Ohio. That was in 1830 and for a year he made his home in Shelby county, but in the next year when he found that the Indians were going to be removed from their reservation lands here he came up into what is now Auglaize county (then Allen) and settled in the old Blackhoof Indian village, which afterward came to be known as St. Johns. When the land there was opened to settlement in the next year he entered a tract in section 5, Clay township, the tract on which old Chief Blackhoof spent his last days and including the picturesque knoll on which the old chief was buried, and there established his HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 285 home. Not long afterward he secured what he regarded as a more advantageous tract in the eastern half of section 20 in Wayne township, southeast of the present village of Waynesfield, and on this latter tract spent his last days, his death occurring in 1871. His widow survived him for some years. They were the parents of seven children, one son and six daughters. The late John W. Vorhees was a Hoosier by birth, born on a farm in the vicinity of the village of Berne, in Adams county, Indiana, and was there reared to the life of a farmer. When twenty-six years of age he married Mary A. Richardson and established his home on a farm he had bought in Mercer county, this state, where he lived until 1873 when he sold the farm and moved to Wapakoneta and there became engaged in a general teaming and transfer business and so continued until his retirement in 1902 and return to Berne, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there in 1910. His wife had preceded him to the grave about a year, her death having occurred in 1909. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, all of whom are living save one son and one daughter. Oscar B. Vorhees was reared at Wapakoneta and received his schooling in the local schools, these studies, however, not having been pursued beyond the eighth grade. Upon leaving school he entered upon an apprenticeship as a carriage painter in the old Meyer & Anderson carriage shop, which then occupied the site now occupied by the Brown Theater building, and was thus engaged until 1894, when he went to work in the woodworking plant of the M. Brown company and was thus occupied until he went to Indianapolis in 1898 and began to work the for Blair, Baker & Walters company in the stockyards in that city. This form of employment did not long appeal to him and in the next year he returned to Wapakoneta, where he ever since has resided, Upon his return to Wapakoneta Mr. Vorhees resumed his vocation as a painter, with special attention to interior decoration, and was thus occupied until his appointment in 1912, to the position of chief of the Wapakoneta fire department, a position which he ever since has occupied and in which he long ago demonstrated his fitness and efficiency. Chief Vorhees has been interested in the work of the local fire department ever since the days of his boyhood, when he became attached to the old volunteer fire department, whose equipnt at that time consisted of a hand-drawn steamer and a hook and ladder truck. This division was not supplied with horses until 1895. Upon his return to Wapakoneta Mr. Vorhees renewed his interest in the fire department and continued to display such an active and intelligent interest in the local problems concerning public safety that in 1912, under the administration of Charles F. Herbst (Jr.) as 286 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY director of public safety, he was appointed chief, and since that time he has never missed a day "on the job." Following the Purvis drug store fire in 1918 Chief Vorhees was able to arouse sufficient local interest to secure a motorized equipment for the fire department and by his careful study of local problems of prevention has reduced fire losses at Wapakoneta to the minimum, the local Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club assuring their assistance along this line. Chief Vorhees is a member of the Ohio Fire Chiefs' Assocstion and of the United States Association of Fire Chiefs. In his political views he is a Democrat and in his fraternal relations is affiliated local Swabian society and with the local lodges of the Red Men and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In 1899 Oscar R. Vorhees was united in marriage to Bessie Hunnaman, daughter of Edward and Clara (Gibbs) Hunnaman, long residents of Wapakoneta, now residing on Ohio street, and to this union twelve children have been born, nine sons and three daughters, all of whom are living save one. Mr. Vorhees and his family have a pleasant home at 707 South Ohio street. IRVIN DAMMEYER, a veteran of the World war and until quite recently operator of the White Mountain Creamery Company’s big dairy farm at New Bremen, now looking after the affairs of his father's farm over in Mercer county, one of the most energetic and up-to-date young farmers in this section, was born in Mercer county on May 10, 1895, and is a son of Gus and Christina (Rump) meyer, the latter of whom was born in Auglaize county, a member of one of the old families here. Gus Dammeyer, a substantial landowner of Mercer county and of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work, is a son of H. F. and Auguste (Thieman) Dammeyer, of whom further mention is made elsewhere, H. F. Dammeyer, now living retired at New Bremen, being a son of Henry and Margaret Dammeyer, who were among the early settlers in the New Bremen neighborhood. To Gus Dammeyer and wife four children have been born, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Alma, and two brothers, Wilbert and Rolla Dammeyer. Reared on the home farm in Mercer county, Irvin Dammeyer received his early schooling in the schools in the neighborhood of his home and then took a course in agriculture at Ohio State University, after which, in 1914, he became connected with the operations of the White Mountain creamery farm at New Bremen, being given technical charge of the details of operation, and was thus connected when this country took a hand in the World War. On July 22, 1918, he entered the service of the army and was attached to the 84th Division and later assigned to the 91st Division. He served for six months overseas and upon the completion of his military service returned to New Bremen and re- HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 287 sumed his position as operator of the White Mountain creamery farm, a position he continued to occupy until in the fall of 1922, when he took charge of his father's farm of eighty acres in Mercer county, with the expectation of applying to that place the same effective and up-to-date methods which he had long been demonstrating in connection with his operation of the 160-acre creamery farm. Irvin Dammeyer married Verona Doenges, daughter of John and Cora Doenges, and to this union two children have been born, Frederick and Julia. Mr. and Mrs. Dammeyer are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church and take a proper interest in the affairs of that congregation as well as in the general social activities of the community. Mr. Dammeyer is a member of the local post of the American Legion at New Bremen and takes an active interest in promoting the affairs of that patriotic body. In his political views he is a Republican, with "independent" leanings, GEORGE W. PRICHARD, superintendent of the weave rooms of the plant of the St. Marys woolen mills, "grew up" in a woolen mill and for more than forty-five years has been devoted to that form of enterprise, one of the real veterans in the woolen mill business. For more than a quarter of a century he has been connected with the operations of the woolen mill at St. Marys and there are few men idenified with the industrial activities of that city who have a wider acquaintance thereabout than he. Mr. Prichard was born at Olney, Ill., July 6, 1869, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (McCormack) Prichard, both of whom were members of pioneer families in Indiana. George Prichard was born in the vicinity of Indianapolis, in Marion county, Indiana, and was early trained as a cabinet maker. After his marriage he established his home at Olney, Ill., and there died in 1870, his son (the subject of this sketch) being then but eight months of age. George W. Prichard's youth was spent at Olney, where he received his schooling and where at the age of seven he began working vacations in the woolen mill. When seventeen years of age he began working in a woolen mill at Newton, Ill., and a year later went to Fairfield, where for several years he was employed in a mill. He then took a position in a mill at Knoxville, Tenn., but eleven months later was attracted to a better position offered him in a mill at Harrisville, N. H., and he moved to the latter city. In the meantime each successive step in his employment had been advancing him in a knowledge of his craft and at Harrisville he further increased his efficiency, becoming a master of weaving processes, so that when, in December, 1895, the offer came to him to take the position of "weave boss" in the great plant of the St. Marys woolen mill he was in a position to assume charge and carry on the work in accordance with the best methods of that time. That was twenty-seven years ago and Mr. Prichard has all this time maintained his 288 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY position in the mill, keeping fully abreast of changing and more efficient methods in weaving craftmanship, and has thus been a no small factor in the continuing success of that mill, the products of which are in wide demand, St. Marys blankets in particular having a reputation which makes their name almost a household word throughout the country and which enter even into export trade. In 1897, a year or two after becoming located at St. Marys, George W. Prichard was united in marriage to Oral Nagel, who was born at St. Marys, daughter of John and Mary Nagel, and to this union four children have been born, one son, Carl, and three daughters, Lillian, Nellie and Mary, the latter of whom are at home with their parents, Carl Prichard in 1919 married Weathy Sigman, of Detroit, and is now living in that city. The Prichards have a pleasant home at 118 Defiance street, St. Marys. Mr. Prichard is a Republican and in his fraternal relations is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Redmen. FRED J. ZIEGENFELDER, manager of the extensive plant of the Deisel-Weimer Company, manufacturers of cigars, at Minster and recognized as one of the alert and progressive young business men of that town, was born at Wapakoneta on December 1, 1890, and is a son of Casper and Mary (Lear) Ziegenfelder, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families here. Casper Ziegenfelder is well known as a moving contractor. To him and his wife eleven children were born, eight of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having four sisters, Mollie, Catherine, Lulu and Helen, and three brothers, Anthony, Herman and Charles Ziegenfelder. Reared at Wapakoneta, Fred J. Ziegenfelder received his schooling in the schools of that city and early became employed at the brick yard there, later entering upon an apprenticeship as a cigar maker. He began as a "stripper" in the factory and worked up until he had acquired an acquaintance with all details of the trade. In 1911 he was transferred to the Deisel-Weimer factory at Toledo where he was given a foremanship and where he remained until in 1917, when the Deisel-Weimer people established their branch plant at Minster, and he was placed in managerial charge of the plant, a position he ever since has occupied, and in the exercise of which he has done much to extend the operations of the concern at that place. When Mr. Ziegenfelder took charge of the cigar factory at Minster there were but twenty-three persons employed in the plant. Efficient methods and managerial alertness have so largely increased the capacity of the plant since then that now there are one hundred persons employed, and there is a promise of early further extension. Mr. Ziegenfelder is one of the active members of the Minster Commercial Club, and since taking up his residence at that place has made a distinct place for himself in the community. He is Demo- HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 289 crat, is a member of the Catholic church, and is affiliated with the Knights of St. John. Fred J. Ziegenfelder married Laura Anderson, daughter of Isaac and Alice Anderson, and to this union two children have been born, Paul and Dorothy. The Ziegenfelders have a pleasaut home at Minster. SILAS JACOBS, a veteran of the Civil war, formerly and for years one of the trustees of Salem township and one of the best known and most substantial farmers and landowners of that township, who died at his farm home there in 1918, had done much toward the development of the community of which he long had been a member and it is but proper that here there should be paid some modest tribute to the good memory he left at his passing. Mr. Jacobs was born in Marion county, Ohio, January 1, 1845, and was a son of George and Susanna (Ruply) Jacobs, who later became residents of Auglaize where their last days were spent. George Jacobs was a native of Germany. When twenty years of age he came to the United States and located in Marion county, this state, where he presently married and established his home. He remained there until about 1870 when he came with his family to Auglaize county and bought the west half of the northwest quarter of section 36 of Salem township, just at the south edge of the village of Kossuth, and there established his home, his son Silas, the subject of this memorial sketch, at the same time buying the east half of that same quarter, the canal being the east boundary of his farm. On that place George Jacobs and his wife he spent the remainder of their lives and their son Silas came into possession of their tract, which adjoined his on the west. The late Silas Jacobs was sixteen years of age when the Civil war broke out. He was a strong, active lad and easily secured a waiver of the age limit for service and in November, 1861, was accepted as a member of Company M, 3d regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served until his honorable discharge in January, 1865. He was twenty-five years of age when he came to Auglaize county in 1870. Two years prior to that time he had married, in Marion county, and upon his arrival here he established his home on his "eighty" just south of Kossuth, along the canal, and there he spent the remainder of his life, one of the useful and influential men of that community, his death occurring in 1918. Mr. Jacobs was a good farmer and as his affairs prospered gradually added to his land holdings until he became the owner of about 500 acres of land in the Kossuth neighborhood and was accounted one of the most substantial farmers thereabout He was a Democrat, long one of the leaders of that party in Salem township, and had served his townShip as one of its trustees and for twenty years had served as township clerk. It was on May 28, 1868, in Marion county, two years before he became a citizen of Auglaize county, that Silas Jacobs was united in marriage to Lucinda (18) 290 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY Decker, who also was born in Marion county, daughter of John and Rachel (Dawson) Decker, and who survives him. Of the children born to that union, all are living save three, Harvey, Lafayette and Ira, the others being Clara, Fannie, Nettie, Amy, Inez and Minerva. all of whom are married, the combined issue of these several unions giving Mrs. Jacobs no fewer than twenty-three grandchildren, in all of whom she takes much pride and delight. Clara Jacobs married Jacob Leffel and has two children, Clarence and Lillie, Fannie F Jacobs married John Whetstone and has nine children, Harry, Roy, Verne, Vilice, Clarence, Mabel, Inez, Carrie and Fred. Nettie Jacobs married Louis Reed and has five children, Gladys, Virgil, Orloe, Dorothy and Vira. Amy Jacobs married Ralph I, D Inez Jacobs married Frank Hayes and has two children, Jessieline and Ruth, and Minerva Jacobs married William Ragen and has five children, Harold, Ralph, Basil, Art and Roy. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Jacobs has continued to make her at the home at the old place just south of Kossuth, rural mail route No. 1 out of St, Marys and is very pleasantly situated there. CHARLES A. HEINRICH, a member of the city council at St. Marys and former manager of the shipping department of the great spoke and wheel works (Crane & MacMahon Company, Inc.) at that place, now paymaster of the same, a concern with which he has been connected for nearly forty years, is a native son of Auglaize county and has lived here all his life, for years one of the best known figures in the varied industrial life of the county. Mr. Heinrich was born at Wapakoneta on August 10, 1863, and is a son of William and Catherine (Herbst) Heinrich, the latter of whom was a native of Pennsylvania who had come to this county with her parents in the days of her girlhood. The late William Heinrich, who for many years enjoyed perhaps as wide an acquaintance as any man in Auglaize county, formerly and for forty years proprietor of the old Henry House at Wapakoneta, was a native of Germany, born at Nau Braunsfels, in Rheinish Prussia, August 2, 1830, and was eighteen years of age when he came to this country with his parents and three sisters following the unsuccessful revolution of 1848, the sailing vessel on which they made the voyage requiring thirty-four days to make the trip. The family proceeded at once from New York on out into Ohio, George Heinrich (the father) having previously had good word of conditions in this part of Ohio, and settled in Auglaize county, where in 1851 George Heinrich made entry to a tract of eighty acres of land in section 19 of Noble township and on that farm established his home, thus becoming one of the pioneers of that part of the county, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, useful members of that community. William Heinrich was an able assistant to his father in the labors of developing the farm in the HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 291 then wilderness and he remained at home until about six months after his marriage to Catherine Herbst, when he moved to Wapakoneta, the county seat, and became proprietor of the Henry House, a famous hostelry of the period, located on Willipie street, and for forty years continued thus in business at that place, also for years actively engaged in the insurance business. He and his wife were the parents of six children, four of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Catherine, and two brothers, John G. and William C. Heinrich, of Wapakoneta. Reared at Wapakoneta, Charles A. Heinrich received his schooling in the public schools of that city, completing the course under the preceptorship of Prof. Charles W. Williamson, and in 1884 became employed in the manufacturing plant of the Wapakoneta Bending Company, manufacturers of spokes, wheels and rims. Three years later he was made bookkeeper for this concern and was thus connected at that place for five years. at the end of which time the company bought the plant of the old American Wheel Company at St. Marys and moved the machinery from the Wapakoneta plant to the plant at St. Marys, thus merging the two and operating under the name of the St. Marys Spoke and Rim Works, This plant at that time was located at the site now covered by the St. Marys ball park and was utilized until the growth and development of the concern became such as to require new and more extensive quarters, when the new plant was erected at the present site of the wheel works in East St. Marys, a very completely equipped plant which manufactures wood rims and wheels of all descriptions and which is reputed to be the largest manufacturing plant of its kind in the world. Upon moving with the plant to St. Marys, Mr. Heinrich continued as bookkeeper for the concern for about two years and then was made 'manager of the shipping department, a position he occupied for thirty-six years and since October 1, 1922 has been engaged as paymaster for the concern. Mr. Heinrich is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, at present serving as councilman-at-large in the city council, this term of service dating from January 1, 1922. He has from the days of his boyhood been interested in music, formerly enjoyed playing in the band, and less than twenty years ago was the manager of the then more than locally famous Imperial Regimental Band of St. Marys. He is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Maccabees at St. Marys and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Wapakoneta he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. October 4, 1884, Charles A. Heinrich was united in marriage to Mary Jane Kantner, who also was born and reared in this county, daughter of John G. and Mary Kantner, of Pusheta township, and to this union two children have been born, a son and a daughter, Karl 292 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY F. and Dollie C., the latter of whom completed her schooling in the St. Marys high school and is now occupying the "information" desk in the office of the wheel works. The late Karl F. Heinrich, who died on November 26, 1918, left a good memory in that community. He had married Edith Orphal and to that union were born two children, William, who died when but three days old, and Emily Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Heinrich have a very pleasant home at 722 East Spring street. WILLIAM P. WELLINGTON, foreman of the wood turning department of the Standard Churn Company's plant at Wapakoneta and well known in industrial circles in that city, is a native son of Auglaize county and has lived here all his life with the exception of a period of some years in the days of his young manhood when he was engaged working in an industrial plant at Dayton. Mr. Wellington was born on a farm in Noble township, this county, in 1864, and is a son of Horace and Marian (Haman) Wellington, the latter of whom was born in Germany and was thirteen years of age when she came to this country with her parents, the family settling in this Horace Wellington was born in New York state and had there been trained as a cooper. During the height of the cooperage industry at St. Marys and hereabout following the opening of the canal he came here and after his marriage settled on a tract of land along the canal in Noble township and there started a cooper shop, at the same time carrying on his farming operations. He met his death by a fall from the timbers of Lock 14 in 1886 and his widow remained on the farm until 1890, when she moved to Wapakoneta, where her last days were spent, her death occurring in 1906. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. There were twelve of these children, of whom but three now survive. William P. Wellington was reared on the farm in Noble township, received his schooling in the local schools and was early trained by his father in the woodworking craft. For two seasons after leaving school he worked on the canal and then became engaged as a wood turner in the plant of the Standard Churn Company at Wapakoneta. Some time later he left there and went to Dayton, where for five years he was employed as a millwright in the Stumps & Burkhart plant. He then returned to Wapakoneta and resumed his place in the churn factory and has since been engaged there, this service now covering a period of thirty-one years, and he has long been foreman of the wood turning department of that plant. In 1894 William P. Wellington was united in marriage to Mrs. Annetta (Miller) Headapohl, civil widow of George Headaapohl to whom she had been married in 1888 and by whom she was the mother of one son, Arthur Headapohl, who is now proprietor of a grocery store at Lima. To Mr. and Mrs. Wellington three children HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 293 have been born, namely : Bernard, a barber, now living at Dayton ; George, a pattern maker in the employ of the Superior Refrigerator Company at Wapakoneta, and Zella, who died in 1917 at the age of seventeen years. Mrs. Annetta (Miller) Wellington was born in the vicinity of Franklin, in Warren county, this state, and is a daughter of George and Amanda (Catterlin) Miller, the latter of whom was a daughter of Strawder Catterlin, of that same county. George Miller, a veteran of the Civil war now living at Wapakoneta, was born in the vicinity of Franklin in 1844 and was living there when the Civil war broke out. He enlisted his services in behalf of the Union cause in 1861 and served until the close of the war. Upon the completion of his military service he returned home and not long and afterward married Amanda Catterlin. Not long after the birth of their daughter Annetta they came to Auglaize county and located on a farm in Duchouquet township, a part of the present Charles F. Herbst farm, and there they remained until 1903, when they left the farm and moved to Wapakoneta, where they are now living, having their own home on East Pearl street. Mr. and Mrs. Wellington are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are Republicans. Mr. Wellington is a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen of the World and Mrs. Wellington is affiliated with the Ladies of the Maccabees, the Daughters of Rebekah, the Pythian Sisters, the Woodmens Circle and the Women's Relief Corps. The Wellingtons have a pleasant home at 204 East Mechanic street. H. F. DAMMEYER, one of Auglaize county's best known octogenarians and a substantial landowner and retired farmer now living at New Bremen, where he has made his home for years, was born in that neighborhood, back in the days before there was any Auglaize county and when that section of what is now this county was attached to Mercer county. He thus has been a witness to and a participant in the development of this region since the days even before the canal was put in operation and long before the railroads came, and has many an interesting story to tell of the days when conditions hereabout were so primitive in character as hardly to be comprehensible to the present generation. "All of which I saw and part of which I was," he can say with the poet. Mr. Dammeyer was born in German township (then a part of Mercer county) on September 17, 1840 and is a son of Henry and Margaret Dammeyer, natives of the kingdom of Hanover, who had come to this country after their marriage and had come on out into Ohio and become members of the New Bremen (then Bremen) settlement. They had two children, the subject of this sketch and his sister, Sophia. Reared on the pioneer farm in German township on which he was born and which as a youth he helped to clear and improve, H. F. Dammeyer remained 294 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY there until he reached his majority and then he began to work as a boatman on the canal, continuing thus occupied for about seven years, or until his marriage, when he started farming in that township. Some years later he bought a farm of eighty acres over in Mercer county and there established his home, remaining there until he sold that place to his son Gus and for himself bought another tract of 120 acres in that county. On this latter farm he remained for about twenty years, or until his retirement from the farm in 1908 and removal to New Bremen, where he has since resided and where he is very comfortably situated in the pleasant "evening time" of his life. Mr. Dammeyer is a Republican and he and his wife are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church, the congregation of which he long served as a trustee. It was on January 24, 1867, that H. F. Dammeyer was united in marriage to Auguste Thieman, a member of one of the pioneer families of that section, and thus he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary more than six years ago. To them have been born eleven children, all of whom are living save one (Edward), the others being Julius, Gus, Theo, William, Amanda, Lafe, Otto, Adelia, Oscar and Freda, and as all of these have married and have families of their own the Dammeyer connection hereabout in the present generation is a considerable one. Julius Dammeyer married Rosenna Tontrup and has six children Luetta, Leonard, Arnold, Norman, Paula and Richard. Luetta married Clarence Rutger and has three children, Marie, Norbert and Lucille. Gus Dammeyer married Christina Rump and has four children, Irvin, of whom further mention is made elsewhere, who married Verona Doenges and has two children, Frederick and Julia, and Alma, Wilbert and Rolla. Theo Dammeyer married Laura Huenke and has seven children, Roy, Howard, Gladys, Mabel, Herbert, Dorothy and Kermit. William Dammeyer married Ida Kamman and has two children, Leona and Orville. Amanda Dammeyer married Leo Huenke and has two children, Lola and Enola. Lafe Dammeyer married Hilda Neuman and has three children, Delilah, Paul and Margaret. Otto Dammeyer married Ida Neuman. Adelia Dammeyer married E. H. Neiter and has one child, Leota. Oscar Dammeyer married Anna Luellerman and has one child, Irene, and Freda Dammeyer married Harry Schroeder and has two children, Robert and Catherine. It thus will be noted that to H. F. Dammeyer and wife have been given twenty-seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mrs. Dammeyer was born in Germany and was but two years of age when she came to this country with her parents, Herman and Margaret Thieman, the family first locating at Cincinnati, whence a few years later they came up into this part of Ohio and established their home at New Bremen. Herman Thieman and wife had four children, those besides Mrs. Dammeyer being Frank, Chris and Gus Thieman. HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 295 WILLIAM PRESAR, a well known retired farmer of Pusheta township, now living at Wapakoneta, where he is carrying on a gardening and poultry business, was born on a farm in the northwest half of northwest quarter of section 6 of Pusheta township, just southwest of the city of Wapakoneta, March 12, 1876, and is a son of Charles and Anna (Hahammer) Presar, the latter of whom was a daughter of a substantial farmer of the neighboring county of Mercer, and who is still living, now making her home at Wapakoneta, where she has resided for almost twenty years past. The late Charles Pressar was born in 1835 on the farm above indicated and was a son of Charles Presar, who had entered from the government that tract in the extreme northwest corner of Pusheta towpship in 1833, the year following the exodus of the Indians from this region, and had there established his home on lands that had been occupied for years by the clan of old Chief Pusheta, after whom this township was given its musical and distinctive name. On that pioneer farm the younger Charles Presar grew to manhood and after his marriage began farming on his own account, buying an "eighty" on which he established his home in that same township. As his affairs prospered he gradually added to his land holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of 275 acres and continued farming until his retirement in 1905 and removal to Wapakoneta, where he bought a home on Pearl street and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in December, 1921, he then being eighty-six years of age. He was thirteen years of age when Auglaize county was erected in 1848 and he thus had been a witness to all the amazing development that has marked this region since that day. His widow is still making her home on Pearl street. She is a member of the German Lutheran church, as was her husband, and their children were reared in that faith. There were eleven of these children, all of whom are living save one. William Presar, who was the sixth in order of birth of these children, was reared on the home farm in Pusheta township and received his schooling in the neighborhood schools. From the days of his boyhood he was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing the farm and after his marriage at the age of twenty-eight years continued to make his home there until 1913, when he moved to Wapakoneta, bought a four-acre tract on Dearbaugh avenue and settled down to intensive gardening and poultry raising for the market, and has done well. It was in 1904, while living on the home farm, that William Presar was united in marriage to Anna Brautifam, who was born on a neighboring farm, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Schroeder) Brautigam, the latter of whom was a member on one of the pioneer families of this county and both of whom are now deceased. The late William Brautigam, who for years was one of the best known and most substantial farmers living west of Wapa- 296 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY koneta, was a native of Germany, born at Altendorf in 1841, and had been around the world before settling in this country. When he was eighteen years of age, in 1859, he sailed from England for New Zealand and after an adventurous trip around the world returned to Germany, whence in 1864 he came to America and proceeded on out into Ohio, locating at Wapakoneta. In the next year, 1865, he married Elizabeth Schroeder and established his home on the farm west of town, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on September 13, 1913. His widow survived him for about three years, her death occurring in 1916. They were parents of eight children, all of whom are living save two. Mr, Mrs. Presar are members of St. Paul's German Lutheran church are Democrats. HENRY SCHAEFER, an honored veteran of the Civil war and one of the best known octogenarians of Auglaize county, a substantial farmer and landowner of St. Marys township, now living retired from the active labors of the farm at his pleasant home in that township, is a native son of Auglaize county and has lived here all his life with the exception of a period during the days of his young manhood, when he was employed at Cincinnati. Mr. Schaefer was born on a farm in German township on June 28, 1842, that township at that time and until 1848 having been included within the confines of Mercer county, and is a son of Victor and Dorothea (Sctroefer, both natives of Germany, and the latter of whom was but a girl of fourteen years when she came to this country with her parents, the family settling in the New Bremen neighborhood. Victor Schaefer came to this country in the days of his young manhood and proceeded on out into Ohio, becoming a member of the New Bremen settlement, and was there when work on the canal and reservoir was begun. He and an associate (Warner) took a contract for the construction of a section of the canal in this region, and with the money thus earned he bought a tract of forty acres of land in the neighborhood of New Bremen. Meantime he had married Dorothea Stroefer, and he established his home on that farm and proceeded to clear and develop the same. After getting the initial improvemest on the place he sold it to advantage and then moved to Cincinna where he was employed in a lead factory for three or four years, the end of which time he returned to his former home here bought an "eighty" in St. Marys township, on the line between that township and German township, where he settled down and spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1885. His widow sat vived him for nearly twenty-five years, her death occurring in 1909,, They were members of St. Paul's church at New Bremen, and their children were reared in that faith. There were four of these children, all sons, the subject of this sketch—the first born—having had HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 297 three brothers, Victor, Fred and Lewis Schaefer, all now deceased. Reared on the home farm, Henry Schaefer received his schooling in the somewhat primitive schools of that neighborhood, and when fifteen years of age went to Cincinnati, where he put in three years serving an apprenticeship to a locksmith. This locksmith started him in at a wage of $2 a week, and to insure his sticking on the job held back 50 cents a week until the apprenticeship was completed, increasing his pay an additional 50 cents every six months. Despite this apparently small wage, Mr. Schaefer was able to save some money during his three years at Cincinnati, and upon his return at the end of his apprenticeship was thus enabled to pay off a mortgage which had accumulated on the home "eighty." He was not attracted to the trade he had learned, and upon his return here took up farm work and was for two years engaged in working on a farm in the vicinity of Montezuma, over in the neighboring county of Mercer, and thus engaged when at the age of twenty years, in 1862, he enlisted for service as a soldier of the Union, his term of enlistment having been for three years or the duration of the war, and went to font as a member of Company C of the 37th regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Charles Hipp (afterward major) commanding, and was with this gallant command when at the battle of Vicksburg he was seriously wounded, entailing an injury which has given him trouble to this day. Mr. Schaefer was sent to the military hospital at St. Louis to recuperate from his wound and then was sent to the hospital at Madison, Ind., where after a year of further treatment he was restored to the active list and was detailed to guard duty Camp Morton, Indianapolis, where captured Confederate soldiers were interned, and there served until he received his discharge in July, 1865, the war then being over. Upon the completion of his military service, Mr. Schaefer returned to the home farm, and after his marriage two years later established his home there and took over the management of the place. He eventually became the owner of the "eighty," the east half of the southwest quarter of section 32, of St. Marys township, and there continued actively engaged in farming until 1917, when he turned the management of the place over to his son-in-law, Herbert Kellermeyer, and has since been living practically retired from the active labors of the farm, though continuing to keep a supervisory eye over affairs. His wife died on November 12, 1918, and his daughter, Mrs. Kellermeyer, now looks after the domestic side of the household. It was in 1867 that Henry Schaefer was united in marriage to Louise Brune, of German township, and to this union were born seven children, Herman, Mrs. Flora Blanke, Edward, Mrs. Emma Weinberg, Henry Jr., Mrs. Laura Waterman and Mrs. Martha Kellermeyer, the latter of whom has been mentioned above. Mr. Schaefer is a Republican and 298 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY has rendered public service as supervisor of St. Marys township and as pike superintendent. He is a member of Kishler post, No 84, of the Grand Army of the Republic at St. Marys, and has for many years taken an active interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. He has for many years also been one of the working members of St. Paul’s church, has served the congregation of that church, as president of the board of trustees, as an elder and as a deacon, and was a member of the building committee of the congregation when the new church building and parsonage were erected. Mr. Schaefer has been a continuous witness to the development of this region since the days of the pioneers and has many interesting stories to tell of the manners and methods of living in other days, WILLIAM FRANKLIN MILLER, who died at his home in Salem township almost nineteen years ago and whose widow is still living there, was for years one of the best known farmers and landowners of that part of Auglaize county and at his passing left a good memory. As a tribute to that memory the following bit of biography seems fitting. Mr. Miller was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Allen on August 3, 1852, and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Baber) Miller, the former of whom was a well known landowner and stockman in his day and generation. He owned a tract of 428 acres a little north and west of the center of Salem township, this county, the same lying in section 28 of that township and that part of section 33 north of the river, and also owned much land in Allen county, where he made his home. It thus came about that the late William Franklin Miller early became engaged in farming. After his marriage at the age of twenty-two years he established his home in Salem township and continued farming in association with his father until the latter's death, when he inherited a tract of eighty acres and thereafter gave his particular attention to the cultivation of this tract. He later bought an adjoining tract of seventy-five acres and thus had a fine farm of 155 acres, on which he made his home until the end of his life, his death occurring on January 10, 1904. Mr. Miller was a good farmer and had developed there an excellent piece of property. He was an active member of the local grange of the Patrons of Husbandry and for years took an interested part in the affairs of the grange. It was on Mai ch 18, 1875, that William Franklin Miller was united in marriage to Lydia Ann Strayer, who also was born in the neighboring county of Allen, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Strayer, and to this union were born twelve children, three of whom died in childhood, the survivors being Alva T., Orpha, Gladys , Olive, Harley, Walter, Roy, Elmer and Fredia, Since the death of her husband Mrs. Miller has continued to make her home on the home farm, where she and her family are very comfortably and pleasantly situated. Their home is on rural mail route No. 5 out of Spencerville. HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 299 DR. M. S. EKERMEYER, formerly and for years an earnest practicing physician at New Bremen, where he died in the spring of 1919, was long a potent influence for good in that community and at his passing left a good memory. It therefore seems but fitting that in this formal history of the county in which his humanitarian labors had so long been so usefully expended there should be carried some modest tribute to that memory. As a local newspaper fittingly said, followin his death: "For who can think of the little city of New Bremen and not associate with it, Dr. Ekermeyer? He represented that type of physician that is fast becoming extinct—the country Doctor—for whom the road was never too long or too bad, or the night too dark or too cold ; whose only compensation often times, was the thought of duty well performed and the gratitude of some poor soul in distress. In his medicine case there were two phials never empty, although frequently used. They were labeled Hope and Kindness and he mixed large portions of each with his drugs. How many grown-ups remember as a child the rides he gave them on his bicycle or the packages of bon bons he brought them when sick? And how many children today will miss the gifts from that spacious pocket which never failed? It is said that in life's summertime we are classed good or bad depending upon which quality has been most dominant and that a kind heart is the greatest asset in tipping the scales toward the good. Measured by such a standard the life of Dr. Ekermeyer stands mightily to the good. Peace, sweet peace to his ashes." Doctor Ekermeyer was a "Buckeye" by birth and all his life was spent in this state. He was born at Zanesville, Ohio, September 4, 1860, and was a son of Dr. William and Mary (Nolfert) Ekermeyer, both natives of Germany who had come to this country with their respective parents in the days of their youth. Dr. William Ekermeyer was but a lad when he came to the United States. His parents located at Cincinnati, where he grew to manhood. He early turned his attention to the study of medicine and in time was graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College. The remainder of his life was spent in practice, mostly in and around Cincinnati. He was an earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and some years after he had become engaged in medical practice was ordained a minister of that church and thus thereafter followed the dual calling of physician and clergyman. To him and his wife were born five children, the late Dr. M. S. Ekermeyer having had three sisters, Minnie, Rebecca and Dr. Catherine Ekermeyer, and a brother Dr. Charles W. Ekermeyer. Not long after the birth of the late Dr, M. S. Ekermeyer his parents moved from Zanesville to New Bremen and it was in the 'schools of this latter town that he received his first schooling, receiving impressions of place and circumstance during that period that years afterward prompted him to take 300 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY up his residence there. Upon leaving here the family returned to Cincinnati and it was there that he completed his schooling and formed his decision to follow in the footsteps of his father and become a physician. With this end in view he in good time entered the Ohio Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati and was graduated from that institution. Upon receiving his degree Doctor Ekermeyer located at Norwood, an 'attractive suburb of Cincinnati and was there engaged in practice until 1883, when he returned to New Bremen, which place had held its attraction for him since the days of his boyhood, and the rest of his life was spent in practice there, his death occurring at that place on May 5, 1919. The Doctor was a Republican and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs. When the office of local health commissioner was created he was appointed to that position at New Bremen and in that capacity did much to organize that department for the useful service it since has rendered. He also had rendered service as a member of the town council and in other ways took his part in public service. He was a member of the county, state and national medical societies and ever took an earnest interest in the deliberations of these bodies; was a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias at New Bremen, and was a member of St. Peter's Evangelical church, as is his widow, and their children have been reared in that faith. Mrs. Martha Ekermeyer, widow of the Doctor, is a daughter of Henry and Lucy (Boesche) Schmidt, and has had five children, Esther, who died in 1915, and Irene, Maude, Carl and Ernest, all of whom are at home with their mother. Ernest Ekermeyer is still in high school. Miss Maude Ekermeyer was formerly engaged as a school teacher, Carl Ekermeyer, following the traditions of the family, is preparing to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and of his father and is now a student in the medical college at Cincinnati. HENRY KOOP, former member of the board of county commissioners for Auglaize county, a substantial landowner of St. Marys township and formerly and for years engaged in the live stock business in this county, now living retired at his pleasant home on rural mail route No. 4 out of St. Marys, one of the best known octogenarians in the county, is a native son of this region, born in the days before there was any Auglaize county, and has lived here all his life. Mr. Koop was born on a pioneer farm two miles north of New Bremen on March 10,. 1841, seven years before Auglaize county was erected and is a son of John Frederick and Martha (Willenbrook) Koop, the latter of whom had come to this country from Germany with he parents in the days of her girlhood and had grown to womanhood d Cincinnati. John Frederick Koop also was a native of Germ', born in Hanover in 1801, where his youth was spent. Dissatisfied HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 301 with political conditions in that country following the unsuccessful revolt of 1831, he came to America and located at Cincinnati, where he worked for several years and where he married Martha Willenbrook. Not long after his marriage and hearing good word concerning the outcome of the German settlements up in this part of Ohio that were effected in 1833, he came up here and bought a tract of land on the old Wayne road in St. Marys township (at that time attached to Mercer county), two miles north of New Bremen (then known as Bremen) and there established his home. This road was then, even as now, the chief highway between Dayton and Ft. Wayne, the route covered by the stage and post lines, and much of the pioneer travel into northwestern Ohio was directed along that highway. Mr. Koop recognized the value of his farm site as a site for a tavern and he erected in addition to his home a commodious log tavern which for years served as a convenient and hospitable house of call for the stages and for all travel along that way, the old Koop tavern there in the southeast corner of section 33 of St. Marys township being maintained until long after the coming of the canal with its diversion of travel to the waterway. John Frederick Koop not only was a good tavern keeper but a good farmer and as his affairs prospered he added to his original land tract there until he became the owner of 200 acres of land in sections 33 and 34 of St. Marys township, along the south line of the township, and had one of the best farms in that part of the county. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Fred, Margaret, William, August, Theo and Cornelius. Reared on the old home farm, Henry Koop received his schooling in the little old log school house at Lock 2 (New Faris) and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing the farm. After his marriage he for some time continued to work the home farm, on a rental basis, and then bought an "eighty" of the place he now owns in St. Marys township and there established his home. He did well in his operations on that initial eighty and gradually increased his holdings until now he is the owner of 240 acres and one of the best and most attractive farm plants in that township, the beautiful shade and the substantial character of his farm buildings attracting the attention of all passersby. In addition to his general farming Mr. Koop also was for years engaged in the buying and selling of live stock and thus gained a wide acquaintance throughout this region, He is a Republican and has for years given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, for two years (1887-89) having served as a member of the board of county 'commissioners for Auglaize county, He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church at New Bremen, as was his wife, who died in 1908. Mrs. Koop was Caroline Markus, a daughter of Christopher Markus, a farmer in the adjoin- 302 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY ing section 28 of St. Marys township, and to her and her husband were born five children, four of whom are living, Wilson, Fredonia, Minnie and Allen, the latter of whom married Alma Sieckie and has two children, Howard and Jean. For more than eighty years Mr, Koop has been a resident of this county. During that period amazing changes have been made in conditions hereabout. His life epitomizes the practical development of this region from an inhospitable woodland swamp to one of the fairest and most productive sections in all the proud state of Ohio, and in reviewing the part he has taken in that development he has the calm satisfaction of knowing that he has done well. PETER HESSE, one of Salem township's well known and substantial farmers and landowners and proprietor of a well improved farm on rural mail route No. 7 out of Mendon, is a European by birth but has been a resident of this country since he was sixteen years of age and of Auglaize county for more than forty-five years, Mr. Hesse was born in Germany on April 21, 1851, and is a son of Herman and Elizabeth (Scholl) Hesse, both natives of that same country, who spent all their lives there. Peter Hesse's youth was spent in his native land, where he received his schooling, and in 1867, when sixteen years of age, he came to America and stopped in New York city, where he became employed and where he remained until after his marriage when twenty-five years of age, when he and his wife came to Ohio and settled in Salem township, this county. Three years later Mr. Hesse was able to buy a tract of fifty-two acres in that township and on that place established his home and has ever since been living there, one of the best known men in that part of the county. Some years later he bought a tract of twenty-two acres adjoining his farm and thus now has a farm of seventy-four acres, which he has improved in excellent fashion and on which he and his family are very comfortably situated. In his political views Mr, Hesse is a Democrat, though before the liquor question was taken out of politics by the adoption of the Federal prohibition amendment lie was a warm supporter of the cause of the Prohibition party and thus naturally rejoices at the final triumph of the principles for which that party so long and so earnestly labored. He attends the Friends church. It was in 1876, in New York, that Peter Hesse was united in marriage to Elizabeth Barton, who also is of European birth, a native of England, and to this union have been born six children, George, William, Emma, Charles, Fred and Laura, all of whom are married and have families. George Hesse, who also lives in Salem township, married Bertha Lewis and has three children, Russell, Arthur and Elmer. William Hesse, also of Salem township, married Bertha Downey and has one child, a son, Ralph. Emma Hesse married Warren Fischbaugh, of Mercer county, and has six children, HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 303 Ellis, Myrtle, Herman, Rea, Roy and Helen. Charles Hesse married Delphia Rice and has one child, a son, Harry. Fred Hesse married Alva Kinkaid and has one child, a son, Kenneth, and Laura Hesse married Joseph Kennedy and has had two children, one of whom (Glenis) is deceased, the other being Wayne. It thus will be noted that Mr. and Mrs. Hesse have thirteen grandchildren, in all of whom they take much pride and delight. Mrs. Hesse was born at Birmingham, England, a daughter of Richard and Maria (Carter) Barton and has been a resident of this country since the days of her girlhood. FRANK MORSEY, of the firm of Frank Morsey & Son, dealers in eggs, poultry and hides at Minster, a former member of the town council and for years actively identified with the business interests of that place, was born at Minster on November 30, 1865, and is a son of Anthony and Mary Eva Morsey, both natives of Germany, who had come to this country with their respective parents in the days of their youth and were here married. The Morseys had come to Ohio upon their arrival in this country and had settled in Shelby county, At Houston, in that county, Anthony Morsey became engaged as a tanner, presently moving from there to Sidney, and was there engaged in the same line until he came up into this county and located at Minster, where after awhile he bought the Dickman tannery and carried on business in that old established plant until his death, To him and his wife were born six children, of whom but three are now living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Louise, and a brother, Joseph Morsey. Reared at Minster, Frank Morsey received his schooling in the schools of that town, and as a lad began working in his father's tannery, there became thoroughly familiar with the details of that business, and so continued until the time of his father's death, when he took over the business and continued to operate the plant until 1907, when he gave up the tannery, the pressure of the competition of the great leather plants having by that time done away with the economic necessity for local tanneries, and established himself in business at Minster as a dealer in produce, with particular reference to poultry, eggs and hides, his eggs being shipped to the New York market. Mr. Morsey has developed a fine trade in his line and is doing well. In 1914 Mr. Morsey admitted his elder son, Oliver Morsey, who had "grown up" in the business, into partnership in his enterprise, and the business since then has been carried on under the firm name of Frank Morsey & Son. This firm has a well-equipped plant for carrying on its business and its operations cover a wide trade area hereabout. Mr. Morsey is a Democrat and has rendered public service as a member of the Minster town council. Frank Morsey married Anna Wieman, daughter of Ferdinand Wieman, and to this union three children 304 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY have been born, two sons, Oliver and Edmond, and a daughter, Beatrice (deceased). The Morseys are members of St. Augustine's Catholic church, and Mr. Morsey is a member of the St. Boniface Benevolent Society and of the local aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. ALBERT HUENKE, a substantial farmer and landowner and oil man, who died at his home on the New Bremen road in St. Marys township in the fall of 1921, and whose widow is still living there, was a native son of Ohio and had lived in this state all his life. Huenke was born in the vicinity of New Bremen, in what then was Mercer county, December 14, 1845, and was a son of Henry and Louise (Stroller) Huenke, who were among the pioneers of German township. Henry Huenke was a native of Germany, born in the kingdom of Hanover in 1814, and was a young man when he came to this country and located at Cincinnati. Not long afterward he came up into this part of the state and began work on the construe. tion of the canal and Grand Reservoir. When the canal was finished he bought a tract of eighty acres, just west of the St. Marys•New Bremen road in the southern part of St. Marys township, and there established his home. He was a good farmer and gradually added to his holdings until he became the owner of 320 acres, and on that place spent his last days, his death occurring in 1891. His widow survived him for more than fifteen years, her death occurring in 1907. They were members of St. Paul's church at New Bremen and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, five sons and four daughters, those besides the subject of this memorial sketch being Mrs. Louise Heil, of New Bremen: Emma, wife of Cornelius Koop, now deceased ; Alice, who married Dr. H. J. Schmidt, of New Bremen ; Anna, wife of Al Buss, now deceased; William, who lives at New Bremen; Louis, also of New Bremen, and August Huenke. Reared on the home farm, Albert Huenke received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and was early trained in the ways of practical farming. He also for some time, beginning at the age of fourteen years, was employed as a driver on the canal tow path. After his marriage he established his home on a farm of sixty acres which he had bought along the canal "feeder" and there lived until 1900, when he bought a farm of 120 acres on the New Bremen road in St. Marys township and moved onto the same, spending there the rest of his life. Upon taking pos. session of that place Mr. Huenke made extensive improvements on the same and it was not long until he had one of the best farm plants in that part of the county. To that place he presently added an adjoining tract of twenty-four acres and thus had an excellent farm. When the gas "boom" came on in the late '80s gas was revealed on Mr. Huenke's original tract of sixty acres and he was for some years HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 305 thereafter interested in oil and gas projects, taking on a number of leases in this and Mercer counties, and was quite successful in his )operations. He also was interested in the old Wooden Shoe Oil Company and on his place there still are being operated three gas wells, owned by his estate, which supply gas to certain consumers at New firemen, including the plant of the White Mountain Creamery Company. Albert Huenke died on November 16, 1921, and at his passng left a good memory, for he had long been one of the active actors in the development of the neighborhood in which he lived. t was in 1873 that Albert Huenke was united in marriage to Minnie ordan, who also was born in German township, this county, daugher of Christian and Dorothy (Schmidt) Huenke Jordan, and to this union were born eight children, all of whom are living save one, a daughter, Minnie, who died in June, 1922, and who had been a eacher in the Lima public schools, the others being Edward, who corks in the oil fields; Albert and William, at home; Clara, wife of Award McKee; Mrs. Laura Dammeyer, who lives on the home farm, nd Bessie and Jennie, also at home. Since the death of her husand Mrs. Huenke has continued to make her home on the farm, oral mail route No. 1 out of New Bremen, where she is very comortably situated. She is a member of St. Paul's church at New Bremen, as was her husband, and has ever taken an interested part in church work. CLEMENS VALLO, a veteran live stock dealer at Minster, ssistant manager of the plant of the Superior Cigar Box Company, former township assessor, formerly and for years engaged in mercantile pursuits there, and in other ways interested in the commercial and industrial development of the town, was born at Minster I March 17, 1872, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Gausmann) Vallo, the latter of whom also was born in Ohio, a member of one the pioneer families of this part of the state. The late Henry alto, who for many years was one of the well-known business men Minster, was born in Germany, where he was trained to the ade of butcher. As a young man he came to this country and was for a time connected with the coal mine operations at Cairo, Ill. He Len came to Ohio and located at Minster, where he became engaged the butcher business, opening a meat market there, which he Inducted for many years. He also for some years was engaged in le hotel and saloon business at Minster and his last days were spent there, To him and his wife were born nine children, all of whom 'e living save one, the subject of this sketch having four sisters, nna, Amelia, Nettie and Julia, and three brothers, John, Louis and Harry Vallo. Reared at Minster, where he was born, Clemens Vallo ceived his schooling in the schools of that place and then went to Cincinnati, where in the meantime his elder brother, John, had be- (19) 306 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY come engaged in the grocery business, and was for several years employed in his brother's store there. Upon his return to Minster he "worked around" there until the gas and oil boom broke out at Findlay, when he went up there and became employed in the plant of the hydraulic brick works at that place. Two years later he re. turned to Minster and was there engaged as a roofer for two year; or until his marriage, when he and his brother, John, bought a meat market there and entered into the business life of the town as a partnership, an arrangement which continued for years. It scar about this time that Clemens Vallo began his career as a live stock buyer, a business in which he ever since has been engaged, and in which he has become one of the best known men hereabout, for operations along that line have carried him all over this and adj counties. Some time after the brothers opened their meat in they also put in a saloon, which they carried on in connection their other establishment for about three years, or until the brother sold his interest in the business to Charles Lauferswe Several years later Clemens Vallo sold his interest in the bust and he and Joseph Drees then bought the Opera House saloon, F or five years later Mr. Vallo bought his partner’s interest in latter place and carried on the business alone for about four y at the end of which time he sold out and has since been giving whole attention to the live stock business, which he had been ing on in connection with his other affairs for years, his activi this latter connection covering a period of twenty-five or years. Mr. Vallo has other business interests in the town. He was one of the organizers of the Superior Cigar Box Company and is the assistant manager of that company's factory at Minster. He is an active member of the local Commercial Club, which he also helped to organize, and for some time served as vice president of that body. Politically he is a Democrat and has rendered public service as assessor of Jackson township and as assessor for the town of Minster. Clemens Vallo married Josephine Budde, daughter of Richard Budde. and to this union seven children have been born, Loretta, Elmer. Leona, Mary, Paul, Andrew and Julia, the three first named of whom are married. Loretta Vallo married Herbert Rulmann, son of Dr. R. A. Rulmann. Elmer Vallo married Mary Wissman and has one child, a son, William, and Leona Vallo married Alfred Freimering. In his fraternal relations Clemens Vallo is affiliated with the lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Wapakoneta, and with the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Minster. Upon the organization of the local aerie of the Eagles at Minster he was elected the first worthy president of that body and was a member of the building committee of the organization when its present handsome club house was erected. HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 307 HENRY F. DAMMEYER, a well known retired farmer of St. Marys township, now living at New Bremen, where he has made his home since 1911, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. Mr. Dammeyer was born on a pioneer farm in German township on November 27, 1850, and is a son of Frederick and Mary (Finke) Dammeyer, both of whom were born in Germany but who were married in this county, where their last days were spent, well known residents of St. Marys township, where they made their home, noving from German township, about the time of the close of the vigil war. Frederick Dammeyer came to America when fifteen ;ears of age and came on out into Ohio and located in the New Bremen settlement, where he began working on the canal which was order construction at that time. Some years later he returned to Germany, but after two years there returned to this country and resumed his place in the New Bremen settlement. After his marriage there he bought a tract of forty acres in German township and presently added to that tract an adjoining tract of ten acres and here remained until about 1865, when he sold his German township arm and moved to St. Marys township, where he bought a quarter section of land on which he established his home and spent the reminder of his life, one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood. Frederick Dammeyer was thrice married. By his union with Mary Finke he had six children, of whom three are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Louise and Louis. Following to death of the mother of these children Frederick Dammeyer marled Mary Koepke and had six children, of whom three are still living, Minnie, Augusta and Ida. Henry F. Dammeyer was about (teen years of age when his father moved from German township to St Marys township and on the home farm in this latter township he rew to manhood, a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing the place. After his marriage he began farming "on his own," for three years renting a farm, and then he bought a tract of forty- three acres in St. Marys township. On this place he established his home and continued actively engaged in farming there until his retirement from the farm in 1911 and removal to New Bremen, where he since has resided and where he and his wife are very comfortably situated. In 1920 he sold his farm and has since been giving his attention to other forms of investment. Mr. Dammeyer is a Democrat and during the time of his residence in St. Marys township served for six years as a township trustee. He also served for some time as a member of the school board and in other ways has done his part in public service. He and his wife are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church at New Bremen and he has served as an elder of that congregation and for one year as president of the official board or council. It was in 1875 that Henry F. Dammeyer was united in mar- 308 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY riage to Louise Waesch, also a member of one of the old families of this county, and to this union three children have been born, namely : August, who married Lillie Neumann and has three children, Wilfred, Alvin and Marie ; Amelia, who married Lafe Haziker and has five children, Leroy, Norman, Charles, Frederick and Pauline, and Emma, who married Omar Dickman and has two children, Dora thy and Vernon. Mrs. Dammeyer was born in German township and is a daughter of Carl and Sophia (Lietz) Waesch, who were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living, those besides Mrs, Dammeyer being William, Herman, Otto, Louise, Augusta and Sophia, Carl Waesch and his wife came to this country from Germany after their marriage and settled, in this county. For a time after coming , here Mr. Waesch operated a rented farm and then bought a place of seventy-five acres in German township, where he established his home and spent the remainder of his life. GEORGE CONNER, an honored veteran of the Civil war and a substantial landowner and farmer of Auglaize county, now living re. tired at Wapakoneta, one of the best known octogenarians in thin county, was born in what is now within the confines of Auglaize county but which then was included within the confines of Allen county, and has lived here all his life save for a period of some years during the late '70s when he was trying out the newer lands in Iowa. Mr. Conner was born on a pioneer farm in Union township on April 18, 1840, eight years before the erection of Auglaize county, and is a son of William and Clarissa (Huffman) Conner, who were among the pioneers of that section. William Conner was born in New Jersey and remained in that state until he was thirty-five years of age when he came out into Ohio and settled in Warren county. Not finding things there just to his liking he came up into this part of the state a year later (in 1835) and acquired possession of a forty acre tract in Union township of what then was Allen county, this township having been organized the year before. On that tract he put up a log cabin, established his home and started in to make a farm out of the place. There he and his wife spent the remainder of their days, helpful pioneers of that neighborhood. They had two sons, the subject of this sketch and his brother, Joshua Conner, Reared on that pioneer farm in Union township, George Conner received his schooling in the primitive school house which served the neighborhood children, and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing the farm, thus growing up a practical farmer, and was living there when the Civil war broke out. Upon the call to arms Mr. Conner enlisted his services in behalf of the Union cause and went out with the three-months men as a member of Company F of the 20th regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Upon the completion of this term of service he re-enlisted HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 309 and again went to the front, this time as a sergeant of Company D of the 54th regiment of Ohio infantry, with which command he saw some pretty strenuous service, including the campaign before Vicksburg, the battle of Missionary Ridge and with Sherman's army to the sea. In the meantime, in the fall of 1861, Mr. Conner had married and upon the completion of his military service he returned home and resumed his place on the farm, half of which (twenty acres) he inherited upon the death of his father. This improved tract he presently traded for an uncleared tract of eighty acres of woodland in Duchouquet township and: on this latter place established his home, He partially cleared the place, got some of it under cultivation and there resided until 1876, when he sold the place and moved Iowa, where he bought a quarter section of land in Linn county again settled down to make a farm. Five years later he found opportunity to dispose of this place to advantage and returned Auglaize county and bought a 100-acre farm in Duchouquet township and again established his home in this county. Mr. Conner remained on this latter place until he had come into his eightieth year, when (in 1919) he retired from the farm, renting it, and moved to Wapakoneta, where he since has made his home, he and his wife being very pleasantly and comfortably situated at 604 East Auglaize street, Mr. Conner has witnessed the development of this county from pioneer days and has many interesting stories to tell relating to conditions in the days of his boyhood compared with conditions today, He is a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and has for years taken an active interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. Despite the weight of his more than eighty years he attended the national encampment of the Grand Army at Des Moines, Iowa, in September, 1922, and enjoyed the reunion very much. In his political views he maintains his right to “independence." It was on October 24, 1861, that George Conner was united in marriage to Sarah Weber, daughter of Joseph and Christina Weber, of this county, and to this union nine children were born, all of whom are living save one, these being Ida, Christina, Marie, Clarissa, Myrtle, Homer, Blanche and Pearl, all of whom are married. Ida Conner married Bartley Blank and has six children, Carl, Emma, Beatrice, Olive, Francis and Marjorie. Christina Conner married Theodore Hartune and has one child, a son, Clarence. Marie Conner married John Naylor and has one child, Pruma. Clarissa Conner married John Sawyer. Myrtle Conner married William Miller and has five children, Howard, Rita, Ida, Leonora and Evelyn, Homer Conner married Sarah Bigelow and has eight children, Marie, Mildred, George, Paul, Charles, Milo, Evelyn and Roger E. Blanche Conner is the wife of Albert Keiser, and Pearl Conner married Ernest Focht and has one child, a son, Willis. 310 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY HERMAN E. PIEL, a well known and progressive merchant of Wapakoneta and successor to the firm of Piel Bros., clothiers and dealers in men's furnishings, with which he long was connected in association with his brother, the late lamented Louis Piel, whose passing in the summer of 1922 was the occasion of sincere mourning throughout this section of Ohio, was born in Wapakoneta forty-seven years ago and is a son of H. L. and Sybilla (Zoellers) Piel, both natives of Germany, who became residents of Auglaize county many years ago and whose last days were spent here. H. L. Piel was born in 1825 and grew to manhood in his native country, becoming there an expert tailor. After his marriage he continued to make his home in that country until 1865, when, following the close of the Civil war in the American states, he came to this country with his family and proceeded on out into Ohio, through the suggestion of old family friends locating first at St. Marys, in this county. In the following March he moved over to Wapakoneta and in this latter city became engaged as a tailor in the Lauer establishment, where he remained for several years, at the end of which time he took employment in the J. H. Timmermeister establishment and was connected with this latter concern until his retirement. He and his wife spent their last days in Wapakoneta, his death occurring there in 1903 and hers in 1910. They were the parents of seven children, of whom but two now survive, the subject of this sketch and his sister, Mrs. Ida Swiebel. H. L. Piel and wife were members of St. Paul's German Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. Herman E. Piel's schooling was completed at Wapakoneta. Under the skilled direction of his father he was early trained as a tailor and was engaged working at that trade when in 1891 his brother Louis and Charles P. Viet established themselves in the clothing business on East Auglaize street in Wapakoneta. He transferred his connection to the establishment of this new firm and remained in that employment until in 1904 when the firm of Piel & Viet was dissolved and he and his brother Louis then formed the partnership which continued so mutually agreeable an arrangement until the death of the latter in the summer of 1922, since which time Mr. Piel has been carrying on the business alone, continuing the commercial policies which for years had caused the clothing establishment of Piel Bros. to be regarded as one of the most popular in this section of Ohio. In 1911 Herman E. Piel was united in marriage to Agnes Schlenker, (laughter of George and Mary Schlenker, of Wapakoneta. Mr. and Mrs, Piel are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church and he is a Freemason, having attained to both the chapter and the council in the Masonic order, and is likewise a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World, and is affiliated with HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 311 the local Schwaebischer Unterstuetzungs Verein. The late Louis Piel, who at his passing left a good memory in this community, for he had many good and firm friends hereabout, was born at Wapakoneta in 1866, not long after his parents had taken up their residence in that city, and all his life was spent there. He received his schooling in the local schools and, even as his younger brother Herman, vas trained by his father to be a tailor and as a "journeyman" worked at that trade until in 1891, when he and Charles P. Viet formed a partnership and became engaged in the clothing and men's furnishings business at Wapakoneta, this firm continuing until 1904, when (as above noted) that partnership was dissolved and was succeeded by the firm of Piel Bros., as has been set out, an arrangement that continued until the death of Louis Piel on August 15, 1922. Louis Piel was an energetic and enterprising business man and long had been regarded as one of the leading factors in the commercial life of his home town, while his genial and wholesome personality had gained for him a firm place in the hearts of all in the community. Though he gave his first attention to the affairs of the store, he found time for other commercial activities and was a member of the board of directors of the Auglaize National Bank and of the directorate of the Citizens Building and Loan Company of Wapakoneta. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church and was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Schwaebischer Unterstuetzungs Verein. ANDERSON WRIGHT, one of Salem township's well known and substantial farmers and landowners, proprietor of an excellent farm lying south of the river about a mile west of the center of the township, was born in the neighboring county of Van Wert, but has lived in Auglaize county since the days of his infancy, his father having been one of the pioneers who leveled the forests of Salem township. Mr, Wright was born on November 4, 1859, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Callahan) Wright, who became residents of this county more than sixty years ago, and whose last days were spent here. Joseph Wright was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and after his marriage there came to Ohio and was for a time located in Van Wert county, farming there. He later became attracted to the possibilities then opening in Auglaize county and in 1861 moved with his family to this county and settled on a farm of 105 acres which he had bought in Salem township, the tract now owned by his son Anderson, and proceeded to make a farm out of that place. As his affairs prospered be added to his holdings until he came to be the owner of 310 acres lying in sections 29 and 32 of that township. He created a good farm and a comfortable home there and on that place he and his wife 312 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY spent their last days. They were the parents of four children, the subject of this sketch—the second in order of birth—having two sisters, Amanda and Alice, and a brother, John Wright. Anderson Wright was eighteen months old when his parents moved from Van Wert county to their new home in Salem township, this county, and on this latter place he grew to manhood. He received his schooling in the Barber school and from the days of his boyhood was a helpful factor in the labors of developing the farm, continuing to make his home and working the farm after he had reached manhood's estate. In the distribution of his father's estate Mr. Wright came into the old home place of 105 acres and has since made his home there, he and his family being very comfortably situated He has a good farm plant and his operations are carried on in accordance with modern methods. On October 15, 1902, Anderson Wright was united in marriage to Mildred Carroll, who was born in the neighboring county of Mercer, and to this union have been born six children, Gladys, Elfreda, Anna, Mary, William and Vienna. The Wrights have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 5 out of Spencerville. Mr. and Mrs, Wright are Democrats. WILBUR T. COPELAND, a well-known attorney of Auglaize county, former vice president of the Auglaize National Bank of Wapakoneta, former special representative of the Federal Land Bank, former city solicitor and a former member of the board of education for Wapakoneta, and for years an active and influential figure in the general social and political affairs of this county, is a native son of Auglaize county and has resided here all his life with the exception of a period of seventeen years spent in the practice of his profession at Lima. Mr. Copeland was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of the picturesque village of St. Johns, in Clay township, May 5, 1871, and is a son of William N. and Elizabeth E (Robinson) Copeland, both also natives of Ohio, the latter bon in Champaign county on December 25, 1850, and both of whom are still living. William N. Copeland was born on a pioneer farm in Clay township on April 22, 1848, the year in which Auglaize county was erected, and is a son of Amos and Mary J. (Layton) Copeland, both members of real pioneer families in this section of the state, they having accompanied their respective parents to this region in the days when that part of what is now Auglaize county was included within the confines of Allen county. Amos Copeland was born in Greene county, Ohio, August 10, 1816, and was twenty years of age when he came up here with his parents in 1836, the family settling on a farm in section 6 of Clay township, where, until they could get up a cabin of their own, they occupied the cabin that had been the home of Du Chien, a son-in-law of the old Shawnee chief, Blackhoof, whose last days were spent on the most prominent of the HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 313 picturesque knolls which lend so much of charm to the valley of Blackhoof creek in the St. Johns neighborhood. Amos Copeland helped to get the farm started there in the then wilderness, and on vember 23, 1839, three years after his arrival here, married Mary Layton and thereafter became engaged in farming on his own account, locating in the northeast quarter of section 3 of that same township, Six years later he exchanged the place which he had proved there for a larger but improved tract in section 4, and this latter place carried on his farming operations for a quarter a century, in this time not only clearing and improving more m one hundred acres, but adding to his holdings 200 acres of adjoining land. In the fall of 1875 he retired from the farm and wed to St. Johns, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on July 25, 1898. To him and his wife were born me children, of whom seven grew to maturity, and two of whom, Miller and George, served as soldiers of the Union during the Civil war. the former being killed at the battle of the Resacca. The others of these children, besides William N., were Mrs. Julia Brackney, Eliza B,, Mrs. Miriam Chenowith and Scott W. Copeland. William N. Copeland grew to manhood on the home farm in Clay township and during the years of his young manhood taught school during the winters. The girl whom he afterward married also taught school in that township, and in his generation their son, Wilbur, taught school in the school house in which his father had taught and also in the school house in which his mother had taught. For some time after his marriage William N. Copeland continued farming in Clay township and then moved to the farm of eighty acres which he now owns in Goshen township, and where he and his wife are now living, very pleasantly and comfortably situated. They have two children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mrs. Howard C. Coffin, wife of a merchant in the village of New Hampshire. Wilbur T. Copeland grew up to the life of the farm, but his habits of thought early led him away from the farm. Upon completing the course in the St. Johns high school he took a two years' course in the Jackson Center normal school and then for two winters was engaged in teaching, one term in Goshen township and one in Union township. Meanwhile he had been directing his studies in preparation for the practice of law, and in 1891 became a student in the law office of Layton & Stueve, at Wapakoneta, Judge Layton (then a member of Congress) and Judge Stueve at that time having been partners. For more than two years Mr. Copeland remained under this preceptorship, and then on December 7, 1893, following his examination at Columbus, was admitted to the bar. In the following April (1894) he opened an office for the practice of his profession at Lima, and two years later formed there a partnership with W. L. Rogers, this 314 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY mutually agreeable arrangement continuing thereafter for fifteen years, or until dissolved in the spring of 1911, when Mr. Copeland retired from practice at Lima and returned to Wapakoneta to assist in the organization of the Auglaize National Bank, of which he was elected vice president. For six years Mr. Copeland continued this connection with the bank, or until the Federal farm loan system was inaugurated in 1917, when he resigned his position in the bank to accept the position of Federal land appraiser under this system for this district, the first appraiser thus appointed in Ohio. Not long afterward he was appointed general counsel for the Federal Land Bank and served in that capacity until after the war in 1919, when he resumed his practice at Wapakoneta, where he also acted as the special representative of the above concern in this district until July 1, 1922, when he resigned to accept the position of manager of the Kentucky Joint Stock Land Bank, a branch of the Federal farm loan system. Mr. Copeland has made a specialty of farm loans since he was twenty-three years of age and is recognized as an authority along that line. While living at Lima he organized the Central Build. ing and Loan Company of that city, in 1908, and served as solicitor for that concern until his return to Wapakoneta. Mr. Copeland is a Democrat and has ever taken an interested part in local civic affairs. having served as a member of the city board of education for four years (1916-19), and afterward as city solicitor under appointment by Mayor Klipfel in 1919. He is a York Rite Mason and also has taken the cryptic and capitular degrees in Freemasonry, and is like. wise affiliated with the local lodges of the Benevolent and Fraternal Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Modern Woodmen. of America at Wapakoneta, while he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the affairs of which congregation they take an earnest and helpful part. Mrs. Copeland is president of the Home Missionary Society of the church, and Mr, Copeland is chairman of the congregation's finance committee. During the period of his residence in Lima he was for years a member of the board of directors of the local branch of the Young Men's Christian Association at that place. On April 23, 1895, Wilbur T. Copeland was united in marriage to L. Mabel Herbst, of this county, and to this union one child has been born, a son, the Rev. Don Herbst Copeland. Mrs. Copeland was born in Clay township, daughter of William and Anna (Beerline) Herbst, and her public schooling was completed at Celina, where for some time she made her home with her elder sister, Mrs. Miller, wife of Judge Miller, and prior to her marriage had for some time been engaged as a teacher in the public schools. The Rev. Don Herbst Copeland was born at. Lima on January 11, 1898. He was graduated from the Wapakoneta high school in 1916, and after a course in Western Reserve University at Cleve- HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 315 land entered Ohio Northern University at Ada, from which in due time he was graduated, and then he entered the Western Theological Seminary at Chicago, and upon completing the course there was ordained to the ministry of the Episcopal church and is now serving rector of St. Alban's Episcopal church at Manistique, Mich. During the time of America's participation in the World war he served in the Naval Reserve, in the students' camp sixty days before the signing of the armistice. On June 1, 1920, the Rev. Don Herbst Copeland was united in marriage to Irene Haman, of Wapakoneta, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Martha Marie, born on January 4, 1922. HARRY H. NUSSMEYER, architect and general manager of the plant of the Rabe Manufacturing Company of New Bremen, was born in that city on January 22, 1890, and is a son of August and Marie (Page's) Nussmeyer, both of whom also were born in this county, members of old families here, and the latter of whom is still living at New Bremen. The late August Nussmeyer was born on a farm in this county and grew up to the life of the farm, but as a young man became engaged in working at the carpenter trade and in time became a contracting carpenter, establishing his home at New Bremen, where he continued thus engaged the remainder of his life, his death occurring there on December 31, 1914. To him and his wife were born four children, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Bertha and Louise, and a brother, Emil Nussmeyer. Harry H. Nussmeyer was reared at New Bremen and in 1908 was graduated from the high school there. Under the thoughtful direction of his father he had received considerable instruction in architectural science and upon leaving high school he entered the architectural department of Ohio State University and in 1912 was graduated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Architecture. Thus equipped for professional service he went East and became connected with the technical department of the offices of the American Bridge Company at Pittsburgh, where he remained until 1915, when following the death of his father he returned to New Bremen and became engaged in the offices of the Rabe Manufacturing Company as draftsman and assistant manager. When this country began its participation in the World war Mr. Nussmeyer offered his technical services to the War Department and was sent to McCook Field, Dayton, where he was attached to the experimental station, doing experimental designing in the airplane wing department, and was retained there until early in 1919. Upon leaving the Government service Mr. Nussmeyer became engaged as assistant chief engineer in the offices of Schenk & Williams, architects, at Dayton, and remained there until in March, 1920, when he was called back to New Bremen to take the position of architect and general manager in the offices of his former employers, 316 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY the Rabe Manufacturing Company of that place, where he has since been engaged in this difficult technical service, which principally has to do with the elaboration of designs for fine interior woodwork and built-in fixtures for homes and offices and in which line he has come to be recognized as an expert. In 1914 Harry H. Nussmeyer was united in marriage to Hilda C. Klanke, daughter of William Klanke, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Phyllis, Mr, and Mrs. Nussmeyer are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church and Mr. Nussmeyer is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at New Bremen and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Wapakoneta. Politically, he is a Democrat. CHARLES KLUTE, a member of the board of education of St. Marys township and one of the well known and substantial farmers of that township, manager of the old Klute farm on rural mail route No. 3 out of St. Mary's, where he makes his home, was born in Cincinnati, but has been a resident of this county since the days of his boyhood. Mr. Klute was born on December 14, 1867, and is a son of Charles and Mary (Molter) Klute, the latter of whom was born in Indiana and is still living, making her home on the home farm in St. Marys township. The late Charles Klute (Sr.) was of European birth, a native of the kingdom of Hanover, and was twelve years of age when he came to this country with his parents, the family cowing on out into Ohio and settling at New Bremen, in this county. where he grew to manhood. When twenty-one years of age he went to Cincinnati where he became a joiner and where he was married, For some years after his marriage he made his home at Cincinnati and then returned to New Bremen and was engaged working at his trade there for two years, at the end of which time he rented a farm in German township and began farming. Two years later he bought a farm of eighty-five acres in St. Marys township and on that place established his home, later adding to his holdings until he became the owner of an excellent farm of 122 acres, and on that place spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1912. His widow is still living on the old home place, she and her other son, Henry (a bachelor), making their home with the subject of this sketch, who since the death of his father has been in active charge of the operation of the place, the Klute brothers having been farming there since their parents moved to the place years ago. The Klute farm is well improved and is profitably operated. In 1894 the junior Charles Klute, subject of this sketch, was united in marriage to Augusta Dammeyer, who was born in St. Marys township, daughter of Frederick Dammeyer, who was a substantial farmer, owner of the northwest quarter of section 21 of that township, and to that union six children have been born, Herbert, Bertha, William, Viola, Clara and HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 317 Frederick, all of whom are living save the last named, who gave his life while serving as a soldier in the American army during the World war. Frederick Klute served as a member of the 322d Infantry, attached to the 33d Division, which participated in much active overseas service, and died at Hoboken, N. J., in April, 1919, shortly after landing in this country on his way home from France with his regiment, the war then being over. Herbert Klute also served as a soldier during the World war, a member of the 13th Field Artillery, attached to the 4th Division, which also was in overseas service. He now is at home taking part in the operations of the farm. William Klute, the other son, also is at home as are the two younger daughters, Viola and Clara. Bertha Klute, the elder daughter, married Henry Schroelich and lives at New Knoxville. The Klutes are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church at New Bremen. Charles Klute is a Democrat and is at present serving as a member of the board of education of St. Marys township. FLOYD B. JACOBS, a well known and progressive young farmer and landowner of Salem township, is a native son of Auglaize county, a member of one of the pioneer families here, and has resided in this county all his life. Mr. Jacobs was born on a farm in the northern part of Union township on August 13, 1890, and is a son of J. C. and Rosa (Harrod) Jacobs, both of whom also were born in that township and who are still living there. J. C. Jacobs is a son of James J. and Fannie (Coffee) Jacobs, who settled on a farm of 120 acres on Wrestle creek in section 3 of Union township in pioneer days and who became useful and influential factors in the development of that part of the county, where their last days were spent. J. C. Jacobs grew up on that place, helping to clear it and get it under cultivation and after his marriage established his home there, in due time taking over the place as an inheritance and is still farming it, long having been regarded as one of the substantial farmers of that community. To him and his wife were born two children, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Clarence Jacobs. Reared on the home farm in Union township, Floyd B. Jacobs received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was well trained in the ways of the farm. He married when in his twentieth year and for nine years thereafter continued to make his home on the home place, assisting in the operation of the same, and then (in March, 1919) bought the tract of 117 acres in Salem township on which he is now living and has ever since been engaged in farming that place. Since taking possession of this farm Mr. Jacobs has made extensive improvements and now has an excellent farm plant. He carries on his operations in accordance with modern methods, gives proper attention to the raising of live stock, and is doing well. It was on March 5, 1910, that Floyd B. Jacobs was united in marriage to Lulu 318 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY Stiles, who also was born in Union township, daughter of Harper and Catherine (Harden) Stiles, also members of pioneer families in that community, for the Stiles and the Hardens were among the earl; settlers of Union township, and to this union have been born five children, Rosaline C., Harlon W., Louella B., Mary Ellen and Alma It, a very interesting group of youngsters who make things lively about the Jacobs home. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 1 out of St. Marys and take an interested part in the general social activities of the community in which they live. In their political views they are Democrats. Mr. Jacobs is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Kossuth and of the local grange of the Patrons of Husbandry at that place and takes a proper interest in the affairs of both of these fraternal organizations. HEITMAN BROS. (Emil and Lorenz Heitman), proprietors at a general electrical supply store at New Bremen and also engaged in the heating and plumbing business there, where they have a well equipped and up-to-date establishment, are native sons of Auglaize county, born in German township, and have a wide acquaintance throughout that part of the county. Emil Heitman, the elder of the two brothers, was born on November 2, 1889, and Lorenz Heitman was born on December 28, 1893, their parents being William and Elizabeth (Brede) Heitman, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families here. William man was born in Germany, Where he remained until he was seventeen years of age, when he came to this country and proceeded on out into Ohio, locating at New Bremen, where he found employment on the canal, continuing thus employed for some years, at the end of which time he started a tannery there. After operating this tannery for some time he became engaged in farming in that neighborhood and continued a farmer the rest of his active life. He and his wife had five children, those besides the subjects of this sketch being William, Emma and Ida. Emil Heitman received his schooling in the New Bremen schools and upon completing the course there became a school teacher and for three years was thus engaged. He then entered a technical school at Nyack, N. Y., where he took a four-years course and then became a traveling salesman, a vocation he followed until his return to New Bremen in 1920, when he and his brother Lorenz became engaged in their present business, opening there store for the sale of general electrical supplies and heating appliances, to which they added a general plumbing establishment, and have since been thus engaged, having built up a very good business in that time. Lorenz Heitman went to New Mexico after completing his school course at New Bremen and was there employed on a ranch for about eighteen months, at the end of which time he concluded that' HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 319 had had enough of that part of the country and returned to New Bremen and took employment with the White Mountain Creamery Company and presently was made night superintendent of that com. pany's plant, a position he occupied for eight years or until 1920, when he and his brother Emil became engaged in their present business. Emil Heitman married Emily Wittich and has four children, Philip, Paul, David and Karl. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. Lorenz Heitman married Isabel Hamilton and has two children, Robert and Nina. He and his wife are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church. JOHN REISELT, a well known and substantial farmer and landowner of St. Marys township and proprietor of an excellent farm and a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 4 out of New Bremen, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. Mr. Reiselt was born on March 5, 1869, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Drescher) Reiselt, both of whom were born in Germany and the latter of whom was but a child when she came to this country with her parents, the family locating at Columbus, Ohio, where she grew to womanhood and was married. The late Henry Reiselt, formerly and for years director of the Auglaize county infirmary and in his day one of the best known men in this county, was thirteen years of age when he came to this country with his parents, the family settling the vicinity of Columbus, in Franklin county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood on a farm. After his marriage to Elizabeth Drescher he came to Auglaize county and bought a tract of eighty acres in St. Marys township, where he established his home. When he bought that place but three acres surrounding the cabin had been cleared of the timber and the task of clearing thus fell upon him. He got the job done and in other ways improved the farm and in 1883 bought an adjoining tract of twenty acres, this giving him a farm of 100 es, For twelve years (1877-89) Mr. Reiselt served as director of the Auglaize county infirmary and in that capacity did much to put at institution on a sound basis. He was a member of the St. Marys utheran church and for years served on the board of trustees of t congregation. Henry Reiselt died on September 10, 1906, and his passing left a good memory. He was twice married and by his 1st wife (Elizabeth Drescher), who died in December, 1875, was the father of seven children, those besides the subject of this sketch being. Frederick, William, Louis, Mary, Matilda and Charles. Following the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Reiselt married Mrs. Katherine (Wittenbach) Weiss, a widow, of St. Marys, who died in 1892 without issue. John Reiselt was reared on the home farm in St. Marys township and received his schooling in the local schools. He worked on the farm in association with his father and so continned after his marriage When past thirty years of age, taking 320 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY charge of the home farm after his father's death in 1906. Three years later (in 1909) he bought the respective interests of the other heirs in this farm of 100 acres and has since continued to resit, there. Since taking possession of this farm Mr. Reiselt has made numerous improvements on the place and now has an excellent far: plant and a very comfortable home, he and his family being q pleasantly situated. It was on May 10, 1900, that John Reiselt was united in marriage to Catherine Sudeman, who also was born in Marys township, and to this union two children have been born Alma, who was born on February 4, 1901, and Alfred, September 8, 1902. The Reiselts are attendants at St. Paul's church at Bremen. JOSEPH J. DUES, head of the Dues Machine Company of Minster, president of the Superior Cigar Box Company and of the Rabe -Lumber Company of that place, former president of the Minist town council and for years one of the most active and influential factors in the commercial and industrial life of that town, having quired for himself the unique record of having sold more threshing machines than any other man in Ohio, has been a resident of section of the state all his life. Mr. Dues was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Mercer on March 29, 1864, and is a son of George and Anna (Vogelsang) Dues, both of whom were of Euro birth and whose last days were spent in Mercer county. The George Dues was about eighteen years of age when he came to this country from Germany. He located at Cincinnati and was there employed for six or eight years, or until some little time after his marriage, when he came up into this part of the state and bought a small farm in Mercer county and there established his home, He clean: and improved that tract and gradually extended his land holding until he had a fine farm of 120 acres, on which he continued to make his home until his retirement not long before his death, He and hi wife were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Mary and Eliza. Beth, and four brothers, George, Bernard, Henry and John Due Reared on the home farm in Mercer county, J. J. Dues received ha schooling in the neighborhood schools, and when thirteen years of age began to learn the carpenter's trade. When twenty years of age he secured the local agency for a first rate implement manufacturing concern and started out to sell farm implements and machinery. borrowing enough money to buy a horse and buggy with which to drive about over the countryside calling on the farmers within his territory. That was in the middle '80s, about the time certain not improvements in the manufacture of farm implements and machine! had begun to lighten much of the old time drudgery of the pion farm, and Mr. Dues found himself a success from the very start HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 321 For two years he kept on selling general farm machinery, and during that time found that his stronghold was in the selling of threshing machines. Thereafter he devoted his attention exclusively to this line, selling threshing machines wherever a prospect presented, and in 1895 established his headquarters at Minster, where he ever since has made his home. In 1909 his sales business had grown to a point that required expansion and he became engaged at Minster in a eral jobbing business, establishing there a house for the sale not only of threshing machines, but clover hullers, traction engines and all kinds of heavy farm machinery. As his sons grew up—for, like all sensible men, he had married early and had got a fine family about him—they began to take an active and helpful interest in their father's business, and after awhile a small manufacturing plant was erected at Minster for the manufacture of certain implements, the father and sons carrying on under the firm name of the Dues Machine Company, In 1919 this concern started in to manufacture its distinctive specialty, a corn husker and shredder which had been invented and perfected by Mr. Dues and his sons, and the market that immediately was created for this machine soon necessitated an enlargement of the plant, which now occupies 30,000 feet of floor space industries and is accounted one of the live and progressive industries of Auglaize county. It is significant to recall that when Mr. Dues , started in business at Minster twenty-seven years ago he started in a little 30 by 60 building, which seemed ample for the time. Though he has developed an important manufacturing interest, Mr. Dues continues his long established business of selling farm machinery and has the largest branch house devoted to the sale of threshing machines in the state. He long has had the reputation among manufacturers and dealers of having sold more threshing machines than any other man in Ohio. In addition to these interests, Mr. Dues is the president of the Superior Cigar Box Company, a busy manufacturing concern at Minster, and president of the Rabe Lumber Company, one of the leading enterprises of that town. At his machine plant he employs twenty-five or thirty men and has four traveling representatives in the field. J. J. Dues married Annie Kamper, daughter of John Kamper, and to this union six children have been born, all of whom are living save one—Oscar—who died in infancy, the others being Bernardine, John, Mayme, Fred and George, all of whom are married, the sons being actively connected with their father's business at Minster. Bernardine Dues married Bernard Kuhn and has one child, a son, Joseph J. John Dues married Catherine Brandewie and has three children, Elvira, Georgiana and Genevieve. Mayme Dues married Julius Friemering and has three children, Evelyn, Lester and Robert. Fred Dues married Florence Ripplo and has two children, Mildred and William, and (20) 322 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY George Dues married Lucile Elliott. The Dues family are member of St. Augustine's Catholic church and take an interested par parish affairs. Mr. Dues has rendered public service as a member of the town council, serving as president of the council for several years. He is a member of the local council of the Knights of Columbus and of the local aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. FRED DICKE, a substantial landowner and retired farmer of German township, now living at New Bremen, where he has his home for some years past, was born on a farm in that towns: June 16, 1860, and is a son of Fred and Minnie (Meyer) Dicke, natives of Germany, who had come to this country in 1853, foil, their marriage, and had settled in this county. The senior Fred Dicke was a shepherd in his home country, but upon locating here It employed on the canal and was thus engaged until he had at,. a sufficient sum of money to make the initial payment on a ti. uncleared timber land and on that place, a tract of forty-six ac. the northwest corner of the township, in section 6, adjacent to Mercer county, he established his home. In time he got the place clean improved and added to his holdings a tract across the line in Mercer. county which gave him a farm of 100 acres and became one substantial farmers of that neighborhood. To him and his wife born eight children, but two of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch and his brother, Gus Dicke. Two of their sisters, Minnie and Sophia, died but recently. Reared on the home farm in German township, the junior Fred Dicke received his schooling in the of that neighborhood and from the days of his youth gave his attention to the labors of developing the farm, working with his father this behalf until after his marriage, when his father retired a took over the operations of the farm, of which in time he been owner. Mr. Dicke continued to farm there until his retirement from the place in 1915 and removal to New Bremen, where he living and where he and his wife are very comfortably situated. He still owns the farm of 100 acres and though taking no very active part in the practical operation of the same, continues to keep close supervisory eye on things. Mr. Dicke has for years t interested part in local civic affairs and for six years served a: visor of highways in his home district. He and his wife are n of St. Paul's Lutheran church of which Mr. Dicke is a former trustee and their children were reared in that faith. Mr. Dicke married Martha Weppenhorst, a daughter of Henry and Minnie (Quellhorst) Weppenhorst, both also members of pioneer families here, and to this union four children have been born, Edwin, Herbert H., Della and Hilda, all of whom are married and have families of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Dicke now having eleven grandchildren, in whom they take much delight. Edwin Dicke married Alice Niemeyer and has six HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY - 323 children, Frederick, Paul, Woodrow, Franklin, Richard and Eloise. Herbert H. Dicke married Sabrina Doenges and has three children, Leola, Robert and John. Della Dicke married Louis Weinberg and has one child, a daughter, Louise, and Hilda. Dicke married Karl Poppe and has one child, a son, Karl, Jr. FRED W. QUELLHORST, a well known and substantial farmer and landowner of St. Marys township, now living retired at New Bremen, was born on a pioneer farm in St. Marys township, about midway between St. Marys and New Bremen, June 16, 1862, and is a son of Charles H. and Anna (Meyer) Quellhorst, the latter of whom also was born in that township, a member of one of the pioneer families there, Charles Henry Quellhorst was about twenty-one years of age when he came to America with his parents, the family settling in this county, and for some time after coming here he was employed on a state boat in the canal service out of St. Marys. The money thus earned was presently utilized to buy a small farm in St. Marys township, a tract of eighty acres along the canal in section 26, and he established his home there. He did well at his farming operations and as his affairs prospered added to his holdings until he was the owner of 240 acres in that township. There he and his wife spent their last days. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch having had three sisters, Minnie (deceased), Flory and Sophia, and three brothers, John D., August H., Edward and Florence. Reared on the home farm in St. Marys township, Fred W. Quellhorst completed his schooling in the school house at Lock 2 (New Paris) and remained on the farm, a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing the same, until his sixty-acre, after which for one year he made his home on a rented and then bought a tract of forty acres to which he presently an adjoining tract of twenty acres. He continued farming this sixty acre farm for some time and then sold it and bought a farm of 100 acres, On this latter place, which he still owns, Mr. Quellhorst continued actively engaged in farming until his retirement in 1912 and removal to New Bremen, where he since has made his home and he and his wife are very comfortably situated. Fred W. Quellhorst married Emma Kellermeyer, daughter of C. F. Kellermeyer, a member of one of the old families in this county, and to this union three children were born, namely : Ferd H., who married Malinda Fricke and has one child, a daughter, Leota ; Luella, who married Arlie W. Sweppe and has three children, Alma, Vernon and Merlin, and Alvera, who married Oscar Hirschfelt and has two children, Virgil and Leverta. Mr. Quellhorst is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. He and his wife are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church, with which congregation he has been connected for thirty-five years. 324 - HISTORY OF AUGLAIZE COUNTY ALBERT W. SCHULTZ, a well known young farmer of Noble township, was born on a farm in St. Marys township, January 18, 1890, and is a son of John and Mary (Hormel) Schultz, both members of pioneer families in this county. John Schultz, who is now living retired, was born on a farm in Washington township, this county, and is a son of Helmut and Mary Schultz, who came to this county in pioneer days from Dayton. Helmut Schultz was a native of Germany and after his arrival in this country made his home at Dayton, Ohio, for some time and then came up into Auglaize county and bought a piece of land in Washington township, where he established his home and spent the remainder of his life. On that pioneer farm John Schultz grew to manhood, well trained in the ways of practical farming. For a time after his marriage he reside on a farm in St. Marys township and then bought a tract of forty-five acres in Washington township. On this latter place he made his home, actively engaged in farming, until his retirement in 1922 and removal to St. Marys, where he and his wife are now living. They have four children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Nettie, and two brothers, Theodore and Emil Schultz. Reared on the home farm in Washington township, Albert W. Schultz received his schooling in the schools of that township and from the days of his boyhood he has been engaged in farming. He married when twenty-seven of age and then established his home on the place on which he living in Noble township, an excellent farm of seventy acres , by his father, and has since resided there, carrying on his far operations in up-to-date fashion, and is doing well. It was on March 1, 1917, that Albert W. Schultz was united in marriage to Hilda Elshoff, who was born in the neighboring county of Shelby, and to this union have been born three children, Almond, Ruth and John W. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 2 out of St. Marys. They are members of the Lutheran church at St. Marys and are Democrats. O. P. McCLINTOCK, a well known merchant of Wapakoneta, proprietor of a well established grocery store at the corner of Bellefontaine and Middle streets, is a native "Buckeye" and has resided in this state all his life. Mr. McClintock was born on a farm south of Lima, in the neighboring county of Allen, February 9, 1879, and is a son of Andrew and Loretta (Reed) McClintock, the latter of whom was born in that same county, daughter of Manuel Reed, and is living, making her home in Duchouquet township, this county. The late Andrew McClintock was born in Miami county, this state, a song of George McClintock and wife, the former a native of Ireland, who later settled on a farm in the northern part of Duchouquet township, in this county. On that farm Andrew McClintock grew to manhood and later went to Allen county, where he married Loretta Reed a-